P3O Heads Up

What is P3O?

The acronym is cryptic - the substance is more straightforward.  This is a new set of Best Practice guidance from the OGC for Portfolio, Programme and Project support functions.  The emphasis is on generic approaches applicable to all organisations so the OGC has avoided the more limiting but more familiar terminology of Programme & Project Support Office (PPSO).

Why Might it Help Me?

Organisations which run multiple projects to drive business change usually require a support function which can provide key expertise and co-ordination.  There are different approaches and this is recognised by P3O.  These new Guidelines bring together a set of principles, processes and techniques to facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management by proposing proven support structures, roles and responsibilities.

What's New?

There are well established approaches to the PPSO but this new guidance is specifically formulated to align as fully as possible with the other OGC methodologies - PRINCE2, MSP, and M_o_R.

When's it Available?

The full Guidance document or manual will publish in November 2008.  As with PRINCE2 and ITIL there will be an overview book ("Think P3O") and a pocket book. 

Training & Certification

There will be Foundation training to embed core understanding of the methodologies, and Practitioner training to cover application of P3O to real life situations.  The Foundation training and exam will be available from November - and can be booked now.  It will be run as either a 2 or 3 day course with a multiple choice exam taken on the final day.

Foundation Level Qualification - 2 days

Target Audience

Those wishing to find guidance or advice on setting up or running an effective delivery support office in alignment with OGC's Best Practice guidance.

Learning Objectives

The purpose of the Portfolio, Programme and Project Office (P3O) guidance is to provide universally applicable guidance that will enable individuals and organisations to successfully establish, develop and maintain appropriate business support structures that will allow:

- Informed senior management decision making on strategic alignment, prioritisation, risk management, optimisation of resource etc to successfully deliver their business objectives (portfolio management).
- Identification and realisation of business outcomes and benefits via programmes.
- Successful delivery of project outputs that enable benefits within time, cost and quality restraints.

Course Summary

A P3O model provides a decision enabling/delivery support structure for all change within an organisation. This may be provided through a single permanent office which may exist under several different names e.g., Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. It may otherwise be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices), both permanent (enabling/supporting business objectives and consistency of delivery) and temporary (enabling/supporting specific programmes and projects), providing a mix of central and localised services.

This new guidance - aligned to OGC's PRINCE2, MSP, and MoR - will bring together in one place a set of principles, processes and techniques to facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management through enablement, challenge and support structures. These structures also bridge the gap between the strategy/policy makers and the delivery arm of the organisation.

Examinations

There will be a Foundation qualification based on an objective test exam along the same lines as the other OGC qualifications. The exam will focus on concepts, structures and duties of a P3O and is aimed at anyone who works with or in a P3O. The Foundation exam will be available when the guidance is published and a Practitioner qualification will follow after launch. The higher qualification is designed for those responsible for setting up, managing, or improving a P3O. model.