According to the PMBOK® Guide, the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group consists of those processes required to track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project.

This process group is unique because it is not a sequential phase that happens once; rather, it is a continuous set of activities that occurs concurrently with all other process groups throughout the project life cycle.

Observation and Measurement: It involves comparing actual performance against the Project Management Plan.

Regularity: It starts at the very beginning (project initiation) and continues through project closure to ensure the project stays within the approved baselines.

Purpose: The primary benefit is that project performance is measured and analyzed at regular intervals, appropriate events, or exception conditions to identify variances from the plan and initiate corrective or preventive actions.

A. Executing: This process group focuses on completing the work defined in the project management plan to satisfy the project requirements. While data is collected here, the observation and measurement against the plan is a function of Controlling.

B. Initiating: These processes are performed to define a new project or phase and obtain authorization. While monitoring starts here (e.g., ensuring the charter is followed), it is not the primary purpose of this group.

D. Planning: This group is focused on establishing the scope and defining the course of action. You cannot measure performance against a plan until the plan is being executed and monitored.

Control Scope/Schedule/Costs: Comparing actual progress against the baselines.

Perform Integrated Change Control: Reviewing and approving/rejecting change requests.

Monitor Risks: Tracking identified risks and identifying new ones.

Control Quality: Monitoring specific project results to determine if they comply with quality standards.