^ [[9 Monitor & Control]]
# 9.3 Control Cost
The purpose of cost control is to manage the project costs so that they conform to the **cost/effort baseline** and overall project **budget constraints**. The Project Manager (PM) regularly monitors the budget and tracks the **difference between budgeted, actual and expected costs**.
If the project **budget is at risk**, the Project Steering Committee (**PSC**) needs to be informed and **corrective actions must be devised, agreed and implemented**. If considerable cost overruns are foreseen, these need to be justified, **reported to** and approved by the Project Owner (**PO**) or the Appropriate Governance Body (**AGB**).
**Note**: The project budget must have been approved by the Project Owner (PO) at the beginning of the project.
![[Table 9.3 - Control Cost - Key Participants.png]]
## Inputs
- Project Handbook
- Project Work Plan
- Outsourcing Plan (if applicable)
- Change Log (and other relevant Project Logs)
- Minutes of Meetings (MoMs) and Project Reports from previous reporting periods
## Steps
1. **Track** the project’s effort/overall **budget** consumption as defined in the Project Handbook.
2. Regularly **review** the project budget **with** the Project Owner (**PO**).
3. Evaluate and **communicate** any **differences** between budgeted and actual project costs, securing **approval** for significant differences **from** the Project Owner (**PO**).
4. Devise and plan the implementation of **corrective actions** that will bring the **budget back on track**.
5. If the project budget needs to be **considerably revised**, this ==must be justified and documented== (e.g. in the **Project Progress Report**). Formal approval from the Appropriate Governance Body (**AGB**) is required before the **affected plans can be re-baselined**.
6. If there is an **impact on the project schedule, risks or quality**, this must be reviewed and **approved** by the Project Owner (**PO**) and **communicated** to any affected project **stakeholders**.
![[Fig 9.4 Control Cost inputs - outputs and main roles.png]]
![[Table 9.3 - Control Cost - Related Artefacts.png]]
## Outputs
- Project Work Plan (updated) (PM2 Template)
- Project Logs (updated) (PM2 Template)
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Spanish Guide: [[9.3 Control de Costes]]
<-- [[9.2 Control Schedule]]
--> [[9.4 Manage Stakeholders]]