Confusion regarding Project Montoring and Control

I have some confusion regarding Project Monitoring and Control (PMC) Specific Practice (SP) 1.2 Monitor Commitments and SP 1.5 Monitor Stakeholder Involvement. In my mind the intent of both practices are logically the same and the type of evidence produces should also be the same (eg. schedule, minutes of meeting/action file, and status reports). I think these are two duplicate practice. Kindly let me know your view regarding this issue.

This is an excellent question. There could be some overlap between Project Monitoring and Control (PMC) Specific Practice (SP) 1.2 “Monitor commitments against those identified in the project plan” and SP 1.5 “Monitor stakeholder involvement against the project plan.” The primary difference concerns commitment vs. stakeholder involvement. Commitments include such things as delivery dates, specific deliverables, requirements, etc. Commitments are those things that everyone agrees to and they must be documented to ensure a consistent mutual understanding. Documenting the commitments indentifies the responsibilities of those involved with the project (stakeholders).

Monitoring the commitments is not the same thing as monitoring stakeholder involvement. For example group A produces an interface specification needed by group B so they can perform their assigned activities. The commitment that group A has made to group B is that group A will deliver the interface specification on Friday Oct 31, 2008. Monitoring the commitment in this case is periodically checking to see if the interface specification will be delivered early, on time, or late. If the specification will be early or late, then some type of corrective action may be necessary. In contrast, the intent of SP 1.5 is to use a stakeholder involvement plan or matrix to ensure that all of the relevant stakeholders who are supposed to be involved in producing, reviewing, and accepting the interface specification are performing their roles as identified and planned. If not, then some type of corrective action may be necessary.

Granted you may have the same evidence for both practices but the evidence demonstrates different purposes and use.