What is a Project Audit?

A project audit is a structured evaluation designed to assess how project management practices measure up against defined standards and expectations. It typically results in a written report highlighting areas of strength and areas needing improvement, along with practical recommendations. Audits can be approached from two perspectives: an assessment of project management as an organizational discipline or a focused review of a specific project.

Why Conduct a Project Audit?

Audits offer critical insight into underlying issues that may be causing delays, inefficiencies, or underperformance. They also lay the groundwork for enhancing project management capabilities going forward.

Organizations often engage independent consultants like Artisan Management Consultant Group to ensure objectivity and eliminate bias that might stem from internal politics or personal agendas.

When Should an Audit Be Performed?

A project audit can take place at any stage—either while a project is still active or after its completion. Depending on the intent, it can function as a one-time evaluation of current project documentation or as part of a recurring review cycle to help track progress, close performance gaps, or overcome ongoing challenges.

Expected Benefits of a Project Audit

• Enhanced project delivery and performance
• Better return on investment (ROI)
• Stronger project planning approaches
• Increased stakeholder engagement and accountability
• Improved decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
• Better collaboration and communication among team members
• Positive impact on related or future projects

Audits can identify weak spots in current practices or detect planning missteps that need correction. Conversely, they can highlight successful strategies that should be standardized across all projects.

In many cases, an audit acts as a bridge to adopting a new project management methodology by spotlighting critical gaps and inefficiencies within existing processes.

The Audit Process Explained

When reviewing the effectiveness of current project documents and practices, Artisan Management Consultant Group evaluates four core areas:

• Risks or limitations identified within the materials
• Quality and reliability of the documentation
• Compliance with industry best practices
• Opportunities to apply lessons learned for future improvement

Each project artifact is reviewed for clarity, accuracy, completeness, organization, formatting, grammar, professionalism, and overall quality. This allows us to deliver a thorough, balanced evaluation.

What You’ll Receive from the Audit

The final results of the audit depend on several factors, including the timeframe (point-in-time review vs. continuous monitoring) and the materials provided (project plans, schedules, reports, dashboards, etc.).

Artisan Management Consultant Group delivers a comprehensive audit report outlining key observations, detailing strengths and weaknesses, and presenting actionable steps for improvement. This report is accompanied by a tailored PowerPoint presentation for executive-level stakeholders, offering deeper insight and clear context for informed decision-making.

Our Commitment to a Smooth Process

Our goal is to keep clients informed, empowered, and engaged throughout the audit process—no unexpected surprises, just transparency and clarity.

To conduct a thorough and efficient project audit, Artisan Management Consultant Group will:

• Craft a customized email for the project sponsor to share with relevant managers and team members, outlining the purpose, scope, and expectations for the audit.
• Develop a consolidated list of project artifacts to be assessed and identify the responsible parties for each.
• Gather all necessary documentation from artifact owners.
• Analyse each artifact, identify missing information, and group results into meaningful themes.
• Compile findings, draft a final report, and prepare a presentation summarizing key results.
• Deliver a formal presentation to senior stakeholders and executives.

During the assessment, we request timely participation from client representatives in providing documentation, feedback, and necessary direction to ensure the process is seamless and effective.