Understanding the Intricacies of Project Assurance
Project assurance may sound like an onerous and bureaucratic process, but understanding its essentials can transform it into a potent tool for effective and efficient project management https://qamodo.com/solutions/project-management/. Intricate knowledge of project assurance can certainly alleviate worries and create an assurance framework that is both competent and non-burdensome.
This article aims to shed light on what project assurance entails, who the responsible parties are, and how it can be implemented successfully in real-world scenarios.
falseThe Essence of Project Assurance
Project assurance serves as a continuous system of checks and balances to ensure the proper administration of a project. This mechanism allows the project board to ensure that the project team is functioning as intended.
Project assurance, however, is distinct from quality assurance. While the latter checks the ability of the project to produce deliverables that are fit for purpose, project assurance provides a much broader perspective.
The Responsibilities of a Project Assurance Role
The functions of the project assurance role fall into three main categories.
Firstly, it offers advice to the project manager, suggesting the right team members, recommending the best project management techniques like communication, risk, quality, and change management, and providing feedback on standard methods and internal policies to maintain compliance.
Secondly, it provides an independent affirmation to the project board that ensures project compliance and the effectiveness of selected approaches.
Finally, the assurance function continues monitoring the project once it is underway, ensuring that it remains compliant with all policies and processes. They will recommend audits or corrective actions if necessary and even suggest the closure of a project if it doesn’t meet its goals.
Ultimately, project assurance serves as an advisory role delivering independent support and scrutiny, contributing significantly to streamlining the project management approach
The Obligations of Different Stakeholders in Project Assurance
Assurance of work is a responsibility shared by all members of the project team. In PRINCE2 environments, project board representatives are explicitly shouldered with assurance in their specific areas.
This falls to three key stakeholders: the project sponsor provides business assurance, the senior user provides user assurance, and the senior supplier provides supplier assurance. The project board also plays a key role in outlining assurance procedures, defining roles and responsibilities, and coordinating the collaboration amongst various stakeholders involved in assurance tasks.
Nevertheless, the necessity for independence in assurance demands that project assurance roles should not be assigned to team members, project managers, or the project support function.
In practice, assurance functions are usually executed by the Project Management Office (PMO) or a project manager, who might be invited to undertake a peer review.
The Timing of Assurance Reviews
Assurance reviews generally take place during project board meetings, as the project reports are peer-reviewed, and the project manager is challenged on performance.
However, assurance can also be necessary during different stages of the project life cycle, such as when transitioning from one stage to another or when significant changes have been made to the project plan.
The Need for an Assurance Committee
Larger projects may warrant the establishment of a risk and assurance committee, or a separate project assurance function managed by the PMO.
At the conclusion of the project, the board might require the assurance function to perform final checks, ensuring that all necessary tasks have been completed. This could include a peer review or a PMO spending time to review the closure report.
To summarize
Project assurance is critical to the governance and credibility of any project. Although the methods may vary, it is quintessential that project assurance remain independent from the project manager and team. This allows the project board to obtain an independent assessment of work progress and appropriate management.
Implementing Project Assurance with Qamodo’s Project Management Tool
Qamodo’s project management tool https://qamodo.com/solutions/project-management/ effortlessly incorporates all the facets of project assurance, ensuring projects are executed adeptly and efficiently.
The tool understands the need to maintain the division of responsibilities among stakeholders and offers various features to ensure efficient project management, such as tasks https://qamodo.com/features/tasks-goals/, Gantt & Kanban charts https://qamodo.com/features/gantt-kanban/, and client relations management https://qamodo.com/solutions/client-relations/.
Overall, Qamodo aims to streamline project management by integrating all necessary project assurance aspects, ensuring your project delivers effectively and meets its intended goals. Whether your project is in its initial stages or nearing completion, Qamodo’s project management tool stands as an integral companion, delivering continuous support and steering your project towards success.
