Project Controls 3.0

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a new approach to the management and control of projects. This approach, Project Controls 3.0 (PC-3.0)¹ is designed to build onto the existing developments in project management and project controls to:   

1. Overcome the problems apparent in the current diverse range of project management and controls practices,
2. Implement a simple, robust system that is effective for all types of project delivery, and   
3. Refocus the controls effort on helping management craft success, rather than report on history.   

This paper is in two parts, the first part looks at the evolution of project controls and identifies some of the current issues and challenges.  The second is a brief overview to introduce the concept of PC-3.0.  

The Phases of Project Controls

In this paper, projects are an organised undertaking to deliver a predefined objective, within some level of time and cost constraint². The degree of definition attached to each of these parameters is variable and depends on the nature of the work being undertaken.   

Projects as defined above have been undertaken for millennia. However, the controls mechanisms used to keep the project on track to achieve its objectives have changed significantly over time. The three major phases of project controls are described below, with a discussion of an emerging stage – 4.0 included for completeness.

Project Controls 1 – Static

The earliest controls tools appear to have been models and drawings...