What is the primary purpose of project monitoring in project management?

The primary purpose of project monitoring is to ensure that the project stays on track concerning its goals, timelines, and deliverables. This involves the continuous oversight of the project's progress, allowing project managers to detect any deviations from the planned activities. By closely monitoring the project, managers can identify issues early, enabling timely interventions to address them. This helps to maintain alignment with the project objectives, thereby increasing the likelihood of success.

In the context of project management, monitoring includes tracking the status of tasks, assessing resource utilization, and evaluating overall project performance against the established plan. It is crucial for adhering to schedules and meeting deadlines, and it also aids in budget control and resource allocation. By focusing on staying on track, project monitoring serves as a critical component of effective project management that helps prevent project overruns and ensures that the project meets its objectives efficiently.