Module 7: Project Execution, Monitoring, Change and Issue Management

Module Overview

This module focuses on managing project execution, monitoring performance and responding to changes and issues throughout the project lifecycle.

Learners will understand how to direct project activities, coordinate teams and resources, and track progress against agreed project objectives. The module explores performance monitoring using metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), reviewing schedule, cost, scope and quality performance, and preparing project status reports.

It also covers change request management, impact assessment, change control processes and the implementation of approved changes. Learners will develop an understanding of how to identify project issues, manage impediments, recognise when risks become issues and communicate escalations effectively.

By the end of this module, learners will understand how to monitor project performance, manage changes and resolve issues while keeping project activities aligned with agreed objectives.

What Will Be Covered

7.1 Directing and Managing Project Execution

Understand how to coordinate and manage project activities to ensure that planned work is completed as expected.

Topics include:

• Understanding the purpose of project execution.

• Directing and managing planned project activities.

• Coordinating work based on the approved project management plan.

• Managing project deliverables and assigned responsibilities.

• Providing guidance and support to project teams.

• Managing execution-related challenges.

• Ensuring that project activities remain aligned with agreed objectives.

Practical example: Direct the execution of an ERP implementation project by coordinating system configuration, data migration, testing and user training activities.

7.2 Coordinating Teams, Resources and Project Activities

Learn how to coordinate people, resources and ongoing activities to support smooth project execution.

Topics include:

• Understanding the importance of team and resource coordination.

• Assigning and coordinating project responsibilities.

• Monitoring resource availability and utilisation.

• Managing dependencies between team activities.

• Addressing resource conflicts and coordination challenges.

• Supporting communication between project teams.

• Adjusting resource assignments based on project requirements.

Practical example: Coordinate developers, testers and business users during a software implementation to ensure that resources are available when required and activities are completed in the correct sequence.

7.3 Tracking Project Progress Against Agreed Objectives

Understand how to monitor completed work and compare actual progress with planned project objectives.

Topics include:

• Understanding project progress tracking.

• Monitoring completed activities and deliverables.

• Comparing actual progress with planned milestones.

• Identifying delays and deviations.

• Reviewing outstanding work and pending activities.

• Communicating progress to relevant stakeholders.

• Taking corrective action when progress does not meet expectations.

Practical example: Review the progress of a construction project by comparing completed activities with the approved project schedule and identifying tasks that are falling behind.

7.4 Monitoring Project Performance Using Metrics and KPIs

Explore how project performance can be measured using appropriate metrics and Key Performance Indicators.

Topics include:

• Understanding project performance measurement.

• Identifying relevant project metrics and KPIs.

• Monitoring schedule and cost performance.

• Measuring deliverable completion and quality.

• Understanding performance trends and deviations.

• Using metrics to identify areas requiring attention.

• Reviewing performance indicators to support management decisions.

Practical example: Monitor a project using KPIs such as milestone completion, budget utilisation, task completion rate, defect count and resource utilisation.

7.5 Reviewing Schedule, Cost, Scope and Quality Performance

Learn how to review the major performance areas of a project and identify deviations from approved plans.

Topics include:

• Reviewing project schedule performance.

• Monitoring actual costs against the approved budget.

• Evaluating project scope and deliverable completion.

• Reviewing quality performance and acceptance requirements.

• Identifying variances across project management areas.

• Understanding how schedule, cost, scope and quality influence one another.

• Recommending corrective actions based on performance reviews.

Practical example: Review a delayed software project by analysing schedule deviations, additional development costs, changes in scope and outstanding quality issues.

7.6 Project Status Reporting, Dashboards and Documentation

Understand how to communicate project performance through reports, dashboards and accurate project records.

Topics include:

• Understanding the purpose of project status reporting.

• Preparing regular project status reports.

• Presenting progress against milestones and objectives.

• Reporting schedule, cost, scope and quality performance.

• Using dashboards to communicate project information.

• Documenting risks, issues, decisions and actions.

• Maintaining accurate project records.

• Sharing relevant project information with stakeholders.

Practical example: Prepare a project dashboard for management showing completion status, budget utilisation, schedule performance, open issues and upcoming milestones.

7.7 Managing Change Requests and Change Control Processes

Learn how to manage proposed project changes through a structured review and approval process.

Topics include:

• Understanding change requests and their purpose.

• Identifying sources of project changes.

• Reviewing and documenting change requests.

• Understanding the change control process.

• Evaluating proposed changes before approval.

• Understanding the role of the Change Control Board (CCB), where applicable.

• Recording change decisions and maintaining change logs.

• Communicating approved and rejected changes.

Practical example: Manage a client request to add new features to a software project by documenting the request and following the required review and approval process.

7.8 Evaluating the Impact of Proposed Changes

Understand how proposed changes can affect project objectives and delivery commitments.

Topics include:

• Assessing the impact of proposed changes.

• Reviewing effects on project scope and deliverables.

• Evaluating schedule and cost implications.

• Assessing resource and quality requirements.

• Reviewing potential risks and dependencies.

• Considering the impact on stakeholders and expected benefits.

• Providing relevant information to support change decisions.

Practical example: Assess how adding a new reporting module affects the project timeline, development budget, testing requirements and resource allocation before recommending whether the change should proceed.

7.9 Implementing Approved Changes and Updating Project Plans

Learn how to implement authorised changes and maintain consistency across project management documents.

Topics include:

• Understanding the implementation of approved changes.

• Communicating change decisions to relevant team members.

• Updating project scope, schedule and cost plans.

• Revising resource and risk management plans where necessary.

• Updating project baselines through the approved process.

• Coordinating activities affected by the change.

• Verifying that approved changes are implemented correctly.

Practical example: After approval of additional project features, update the project schedule, budget and resource assignments before communicating the revised plan to the team.

7.10 Identifying and Managing Project Issues and Impediments

Understand how to identify issues that affect project progress and take appropriate action to resolve them.

Topics include:

• Understanding the difference between risks and issues.

• Identifying current project problems and impediments.

• Recording issues in an issue log.

• Assessing the impact and urgency of issues.

• Assigning issue owners and resolution responsibilities.

• Developing and tracking corrective actions.

• Monitoring unresolved issues until closure.

Practical example: Identify a system integration failure during project testing, record it as an issue, assign it to the technical team and monitor the resolution until testing can continue.

7.11 Recognising When a Risk Becomes an Issue

Learn how to distinguish between potential risks and problems that have already occurred.

Topics include:

• Understanding risks and issues in project management.

• Recognising when an identified risk materialises.

• Understanding the transition from risk response planning to issue management.

• Reviewing existing risk registers.

• Recording materialised risks in the issue log.

• Implementing planned responses where applicable.

• Monitoring the impact of the issue on project objectives.

Practical example: A supplier delivery delay initially identified as a project risk becomes an actual issue when the delivery date is missed. The project manager activates the planned response and coordinates an alternative supply arrangement.

7.12 Prioritising Blockers and Developing Resolution Strategies

Explore how to prioritise project blockers and identify suitable actions to restore progress.

Topics include:

• Identifying blockers affecting project activities.

• Assessing their urgency and impact.

• Prioritising issues based on their effect on project objectives.

• Identifying possible resolution strategies.

• Coordinating with responsible teams and stakeholders.

• Assigning actions and target resolution dates.

• Monitoring progress until blockers are removed.

Practical example: Prioritise an infrastructure access issue that prevents system testing from proceeding and coordinate with the IT team to resolve it before the next project milestone.

7.13 Escalation and Stakeholder Communication

Understand when issues require escalation and how to communicate them to the appropriate stakeholders.

Topics include:

• Understanding project escalation procedures.

• Identifying situations that require escalation.

• Determining the appropriate level of escalation.

• Communicating issues, impacts and proposed actions.

• Providing clear and timely updates to stakeholders.

• Documenting escalation decisions and follow-up actions.

• Maintaining transparency during issue resolution.

Practical example: Escalate a critical resource shortage to the project sponsor when it cannot be resolved within the project manager's authority and may affect the agreed delivery date.

7.14 Reviewing Project Performance and Updating Plans as Required

Learn how to use performance reviews to identify improvements and keep project plans relevant throughout delivery.

Topics include:

• Conducting regular project performance reviews.

• Comparing actual results with approved plans.

• Reviewing schedule, cost, scope and quality performance.

• Identifying recurring problems and performance gaps.

• Evaluating corrective and preventive actions.

• Updating project plans through appropriate approval processes.

• Communicating revised priorities and expectations.

• Monitoring the effectiveness of implemented improvements.

Practical example: Conduct a monthly project review, identify repeated schedule delays and update activity assignments and delivery plans based on the findings.

Skills You Will Gain

By completing this module, learners will develop the ability to:

• Direct and manage project execution activities.

• Coordinate teams, resources and project responsibilities.

• Track project progress against agreed objectives.

• Monitor performance using metrics and KPIs.

• Review schedule, cost, scope and quality performance.

• Prepare project status reports and dashboards.

• Maintain accurate project documentation.

• Manage change requests and change control processes.

• Evaluate the impact of proposed project changes.

• Implement approved changes and update project plans.

• Identify, document and manage project issues.

• Recognise when risks become actual issues.

• Prioritise project blockers and develop resolution strategies.

• Apply escalation procedures and communicate with stakeholders.

• Review project performance and recommend corrective actions.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, learners will understand how effective execution, monitoring and issue management help maintain project performance and control.

• Better project execution: Coordinate activities, teams and resources to ensure that planned work progresses towards agreed deliverables.

• Improved performance visibility: Use project metrics and KPIs to understand progress, identify deviations and provide management with accurate performance information.

• Stronger project control: Monitor schedule, cost, scope and quality performance to identify problems early and take appropriate corrective action.

• More effective reporting: Use status reports and dashboards to communicate project progress, outstanding work, risks and important decisions.

• Controlled project changes: Evaluate change requests before implementation and understand their impact on project commitments, resources and expected outcomes.

• Faster issue resolution: Identify and prioritise project issues, assign responsibilities and monitor resolution activities to minimise disruption.

• Better risk and issue management: Recognise when risks materialise and take appropriate action to manage their impact on project delivery.

• Clearer stakeholder communication: Escalate significant issues at the appropriate level and maintain transparency when project conditions change.

• Continuous performance improvement: Review project results, identify recurring challenges and update plans to improve ongoing delivery.

PMP Exam Alignment

This module primarily supports the Process domain of the PMP Examination Content Outline, with a focus on project execution, performance monitoring, change management and issue resolution.

Continue to the Next Module

Continue to Module 8: Business Environment, Organisational Change and Project Closure.