Monitoring is a technique by which you can check that everything is continuing to go according to plan.

Monitoring, in the context of the action plan, addresses questions such as:

Are outputs being achieved within the timeframes?
Are resources being efficiently and effectively used?
Have you maximised the use of resources?
Are you doing what you said you would do and if not, why not?
Are you collaborating with other services?

When you do your monitoring, you need to identify what information should be collected (Figure 3.6). Don't just collect information for the sake of having it; you must have a purpose, a reason for collecting the information. The questions to ask are:

What sort of information do we need?
How will we use the information?
How can it be collected with the least possible trouble?
Who will collect it?
Who will analyse it?

Figure 3.6 Monitoring your activities will tell you how you are doing in your work. (Photo: Tom Heller)