 |
Foreword
In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving commercial and business environments, it is vital to maintain a high level of assurance and stability in the delivery of programmes and projects. Organizations are exposed daily to unnecessary risks and inefficiencies because they have failed to apply the simple principle of establishing, developing and maintaining appropriate business-support structures. It is shocking that this exists, when the remedy to remove or minimize these risks and inefficiencies could be so simple.
This new Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O) guidance is aimed at helping organizations to overcome many of the challenges they face in portfolio, programme and project management. It adds to the growing suite of key methodologies created by the Office of Government Commerce, including PRINCE2, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) and Management of Risk (M_o_R).
P3O provides universally applicable guidance that will enable individuals and organizations to establish, develop and maintain appropriate business-support structures. It will be particularly vital in the delivery of the huge portfolio of public sector projects and programmes, and looks to contribute to providing value for money. This is an important consideration ordinarily, and even more so when operating in uncertain economic climates.
The guidance brings together a set of principles, processes and techniques to facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management by proposing proven support structures, roles and responsibilities. These structures also bridge the gap between the process of developing the organization’s strategy and that of its delivery.
P3O draws on real-life experiences from both public and private sector organizations to produce guidance that will help senior management make informed decisions on strategic alignment, prioritization, risk management and optimization of resources to deliver business objectives successfully. This rigorous yet flexible approach will help organizations to obtain the best possible value for money from their investment.
Nigel Smith
Chief Executive (Chair)
Office of Government Commerce
