Introduction

In project management, controlling plays a vital role in ensuring progress towards objectives and taking corrective action when necessary. It involves a three-step process of measuring progress, evaluating deviations, and implementing corrective actions. The project manager bears the responsibility of accomplishing group and organizational goals, requiring a solid understanding of standards and cost control policies. Additionally, strong interpersonal skills are crucial during the controlling function to navigate the complexities of team dynamics. In this article, we will delve into the importance of controlling and its relationship with organizational behavior and interpersonal skills.

The Three Steps of Controlling:

1. Measuring: Measuring entails assessing progress towards objectives using both formal and informal reports. Through ongoing monitoring, project managers gain insights into the degree of progress being made.
2. Evaluating: During the evaluating stage, project managers analyze significant deviations from planned performance to identify the causes and determine possible courses of action. This evaluation is vital for making informed decisions and ensuring the project stays on track.
3. Correcting: Correcting involves taking control action to address unfavorable trends or leverage unusually favorable trends. Project managers must be proactive in identifying potential issues and taking corrective measures to maintain project success.

The Role of Interpersonal Skills in Controlling

As mentioned in Chapter 1, project managers must possess a deep understanding of organizational behavior and exhibit strong interpersonal skills to be effective. These skills become particularly critical during the controlling function. Effective project control relies on the project manager’s ability to lead and understand individual team members’ dynamics within a group setting. Predicting and managing interactions and structuring the task team accordingly are essential for success.

The Importance of Understanding Team Dynamics

Project managers must recognize that technical competence alone does not guarantee seamless teamwork. The interactions and social behaviors of individual team members within the group significantly influence project outcomes. To successfully navigate team dynamics, project managers require tools and methods to measure and characterize individual team members. By understanding their capabilities, preferences, and work styles, project managers can optimize team collaboration and enhance overall project performance.

Conclusion

Controlling is a crucial function in project management that ensures progress towards objectives and enables corrective action. Effective controlling requires project managers to possess both a strong grasp of standards and cost control policies and exceptional interpersonal skills. By understanding team dynamics and leveraging tools to measure and characterize individual team members, project managers can drive successful project outcomes. Emphasizing the importance of controlling and interpersonal skills contributes to improved project performance and enhances overall project management effectiveness.