What is the main purpose of the controlling phase in project management?

The main purpose of the controlling phase in project management is to monitor resources, costs, quality, and budgets, ensuring that the project stays on track and align with its objectives. This phase is critical as it involves continuous oversight of project performance against the planned goals. It includes activities such as tracking progress, assessing variances from the project plan, implementing corrective actions when necessary, and ensuring that the project's deliverables meet the required quality standards.

This ongoing monitoring not only helps in identifying potential issues early but also facilitates informed decision-making to steer the project back on course if deviations are observed. By maintaining oversight of various aspects like scheduling, budgeting, and quality, project managers can effectively manage risks and ensure that the project meets its deadlines, stays within budget, and meets stakeholder expectations.

The other choices focus on different project phases or activities: creating initial project documentation occurs in the planning phase, establishing a project’s vision and mission is part of the initiation phase, and conducting stakeholder interviews is also typically associated with the planning stage of a project. Each of these activities is important but does not fall within the controlling phase, which is specifically related to monitoring and managing the project as it progresses.