Summary

Monitor actual values of planning parameters against the work plan.

Description

Work planning parameters constitute typical indicators of work progress and performance and include attributes of work products and tasks, costs, effort, and schedule. Attributes of the work products and tasks include size, complexity, service level, availability, weight, form, fit, and function. The frequency of monitoring parameters should be considered.

Frequency considerations can include the possible need for monitoring each service request or incident, and possibly even continuous monitoring for continuously delivered services.

Monitoring typically involves measuring actual values of planning parameters, comparing actual values to estimates in the plan, and identifying significant deviations. Recording actual values of planning parameters includes recording associated contextual information to help understand measures. An analysis of the impact that significant deviations have on determining the corrective actions to take is handled in specific goal 2 and its specific practices in this process area.

Example Work Products



  1. Records of performance
  2. Records of significant deviations
  3. Cost performance reports


Subpractices



1. Monitor progress against the schedule.

 

Progress monitoring typically includes the following:
  • Periodically measuring the actual completion of activities and milestones
  • Comparing actual completion of activities and milestones against the planned schedule
  • Identifying significant deviations from the planned schedule estimates



2. Monitor the costs and expended effort of the work.

 

Effort and cost monitoring typically includes the following:
  • Periodically measuring the actual effort and costs expended and staff assigned
  • Comparing actual effort, costs, staffing, and training to the planned budget and estimates
  • Identifying significant deviations from the planned budget and estimates



3. Monitor the attributes of work products and tasks.

Refer to the Measurement and Analysis (MA) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about developing and sustaining a measurement capability used to support management information needs.


Refer to the Work Planning (WP) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about establishing estimates of work product and task attributes.


 

Monitoring the attributes of work products and tasks typically includes the following:
  • Periodically measuring the actual attributes of work products and tasks, such as size, complexity, or service levels (and changes to these attributes)
  • Comparing the actual attributes of work products and tasks (and changes to these attributes) to the work plan estimates
  • Identifying significant deviations from the work plan estimates



4. Monitor resources provided and used.

Refer to the Capacity and Availability Management (CAM) (CMMI-SVC) Management process area for more information about monitoring and analyzing capacity and availability.


Refer to the Work Planning (WP) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about planning the resources.


 

Examples of resources include the following:
  • Physical facilities
  • Computers, peripherals, and software
  • Networks
  • Security environment
  • Staff
  • Processes



5. Monitor the knowledge and skills of work group members.

Refer to the Work Planning (WP) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about planning needed knowledge and skills.


 

Monitoring the knowledge and skills of work group staff typically includes the following:
  • Periodically measuring the acquisition of knowledge and skills by work group staff
  • Comparing the actual training obtained to that documented in the work plan
  • Identifying significant deviations from the work plan estimates



6. Document significant deviations in planning parameters.