What is a project management audit checklist?
A project management audit checklist can be used to assess the status of a project against predefined success criteria. This reveals problems and opportunities for existing and future projects. A project audit checklist is usually used for complex projects in the fields of design, IT and software development, construction and engineering, as well as organisational restructuring. It is conducted by project managers or external auditors , who often conduct in-depth interviews with project team members and stakeholders for the purpose.
These topics are covered in this article:
1. The phases of a project management audit
2. The 3 most important points of a project management audit
3. How can digital technology help you perform a project management audit?
The phases of a project management audit
To start the analysis of a project’s progress, you need the help of a product audit. A project audit aims to determine the extent to which the project is on schedule and what measures need to be taken. A good product audit checklist deals with the critical areas of compliance, effectiveness and success of the project. It helps project management teams make necessary adjustments or reassess and recalibrate processes. The following elements are important for a project management audit checklist. With each of these phases, you come one step closer to the project goal: A project management experience report:
1. Determination of the Current Project Planning
- Dates, cost and activity planning
2. Determination of Actual Condition
- Resources used up to now
- Determination of resources still required
3. Conducting a Deviation Analysis
- What are the reasons for the previous planning deviations. What dates, costs, and activities are involved.
- Assessment of assumptions, probability of occurrence and prospects of success
4. Assessment of Opportunities & Risks
- A risk and opportunity analysis is essential to be able to assess the course of the project realistically
The 3 most important points of a project management audit checklist
The following is a list of the most important questions for an audit of projects. These can of course vary depending on the company and the project. Nevertheless, the basic structure is always similar. It is important to accurately document and answer the questions asked.
1. General
- Do evaluations take place after each project completion?
- Do evaluations take place within projects?
- Do evaluations take place during the transition between project phases?
- Who is present at the project evaluation rounds?
2. Participation
- Who is present at the project evaluation rounds?
- Project manager
- Project staff
- Client
- Observers
- What is the atmosphere like during the project evaluation?
- Is value placed on open and fair communication?
- Are achievements/strengths discussed as much as mistakes and weaknesses?
3. Lessons Learned
- Are the results of the evaluation rounds and the analyses recorded in writing and used for future projects?
- Is there a regular exchange within the team?
- Is it ensured that mistakes are not repeated in future projects, if possible?
How can digital technology help you perform a project management audit checklist?
Lumiform is a powerful and mobile application that streamlines project audits by making information collection quick, easy and accessible online for all project members. For example, you can track your project’s progress or improve collaboration.
Lumiform’s mobile app and desktop software, offers you further advantages. All responsible persons can access the checklists at any time and from any location. If problems occur and corrective measures need to be implemented, this can be informed immediately from the app.
In addition, clean, transparent documentation helps prevent the recurrence of problems. Lumiform’s mobile and web app can be used for the following:
- The flexible form builder makes it possible to create new individual project management audits at any time and adapt them again and again.
- Increase the efficiency of your internal processes: Resolve incidents up to 4x faster than before through more efficient communication within the team, with third parties and with management, and faster incident reporting.
- All results, images and comments are automatically bundled in a digital report.
- Comprehensive analyses help you to identify inefficient areas in your company more quickly and thus to continuously improve your auditing and inspection processes.
