Project assurance is a systematic approach to overseeing and supporting the successful delivery of enterprise IT projects, ensuring they adhere to established methodologies, frameworks, and best practices. It covers various tasks that span the project lifecycle, providing stakeholders with confidence that the project will meet its quality objectives.

Project Assurance in Practice

Project assurance prioritises quality over day-to-day management, distinguishing it from project management. Quality responsibilities are typically shared between the PMO and the Project Manager in enterprise IT projects. The PMO establishes frameworks and conducts audits, while the Project Manager monitors performance to meet objectives.

The PMO's authority may be directive, controlling, or supportive. A directive PMO directly manages projects and is fully accountable for outcomes. A controlling PMO ensures compliance with standards while sharing accountability for results. A supportive PMO offers consultative assistance without direct responsibility for outcomes.

In establishing frameworks, the PMO may mandate standardisation, enforce compliance with enterprise standards, or provide tools and frameworks for project teams. The PMO may also perform in-house or outsourced audits, monitor compliance, suggest corrective actions, or guide audit practices to facilitate team self-assessment.

Without a dedicated Project Assurance Manager, project assurance is primarily the Project Manager's responsibility, involving continuous evaluation of the project against its strategic objectives and KPIs. This includes reviewing progress reports, financial data, and critical metrics to ensure alignment with long-term goals. Additionally, the Project Manager oversees the execution of tasks and deliverables, ensuring that the project stays on schedule to deliver the agreed scope.