Which practice area focuses on understanding progress to take corrective actions for deviations from plans?

The practice area that focuses on understanding progress to take corrective actions for deviations from plans is Monitor and Control. This practice area is essential in project management and process improvement as it involves tracking project parameters, monitoring execution against the project plan, and ensuring that performance aligns with established objectives.

By continuously measuring progress, teams can identify any variances from their planned metrics. This allows for timely interventions and corrective actions to steer the project back on track, enhancing the likelihood of achieving desired outcomes. Monitor and Control not only assists in maintaining quality but also in managing risks by identifying issues early and addressing them proactively.

In contrast, the other options have different focal points: Quality Control pertains to maintaining the quality of outputs rather than monitoring progress; Planning and Review is more about establishing the project framework and evaluating past performance rather than ongoing monitoring; and Performance Evaluation generally concerns assessing outcomes after activities have concluded, rather than actively adjusting them during execution.