P3O Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices

Anybody interested in professional project management should be following the launch and evolution of this oddly named set of guidance from the OGC. Those who have got involved so far have been surprisingly complimentary. 

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.

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www.focus-on-training.co.uk