Portfolio, Programme and Project Management Maturity Model (P3M3) Consultant Accreditation

At the conclusion of our initial review of the P3M3 model we committed to provide more details about the P3M3 consultancy accreditation and certification processes.  We collected information from sources in the US, UK and Australia for this blog and hope it inspires project professionals alike to consider P3M3 certification.

As we noted in the initial review, the P3M3 model is free for organizations wanting to perform a self-assessment and a download is available here http://www.p3m3-officialsite.com/home/home.asp.  A self-assessment is defined as performing a capability assessment within your organization to determine what works and identify areas for improvement.  Some project organizations benefit from receiving formal recognition in the form of certification for a given level of maturity and use professional consultants to guide them through a formal assessment and progression process to achieve these credentials.  With regard to P3M3, certain requirements apply to professional consultancies assisting their clients through this process.

The APM Group (APMG)

The APM Group Ltd (APMG), headquartered in the UK with a US office in Massachusetts, is the organization that sets requirements and governs the accreditation and registration processes for many disciplines including but not limited to: Programme and Project Management (PPM), PRINCE2, Management of Risk (M_o_R) and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP).  APMG accepted P3M3 as their preferred method for measuring portfolio, program and project management capability maturity and they set the eligibility requirements for those providing professional services for clients to acquire formal P3M3 maturity credentials.  APMG verifies assessment results and formally certifies project organizations at the recommended maturity level.

APMG developed a P3M3 Assessment Tool (remember there is no software application or automated tool to accompany P3M3 for individual organizations performing a self-assessment) that provides flexibility to assess portfolio, program and/or project management maturity independently against the standards and process perspectives defined in the P3M3 model.  This tool is available to Registered Consultants (RCs) only and not available to the general public.

The folks at APMG-UK and APMG-US provided the accreditation and registration information for this blog and we thank them for their assistance.  Contact APMG-UK at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com or Ronn Faigen, APMG-US Marketing Manager at 781-275-8604, Ronn.Faigen@APMG-Usa.com for more detailed information.

Registered Consultants

Formal P3M3 assessments are performed by Registered Consultants (RCs) certified through APMG.  RCs must be accredited in PPM and/or MSP and attend a maturity model briefing event.  Once RC designation is awarded, consultants are able to conduct formal P3M3 assessments using the APMG Assessment Tool, develop maturity level recommendations and request APMG verification of those findings.  APMG reviews RC recommendations and certifies the project organization at the recommended maturity level.  APMG offers a certificate to the project organization and lists it on the APMG website.  Project organizations pay a fee for formal certification credentials.

To become an RC and perform formal P3M3 assessments, individuals must meet certain eligibility requirements.  Listed below are the eligibility requirements for PPM RC certification.   Prospective PPM RCs must:

• Be sponsored by an Accredited Consulting Organization (ACO).
• Complete/submit application paperwork and pay the appropriate registration fee to APMG.
• Meet one of the following requirements:  (1) Have PRINCE2, P3O, MSP or M_o_R accreditation plus two years experience as a management consultant in program and project management.  (P3O is Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices certification which is fairly new); (2) Have a degree in Program or Project Management (or equivalent) plus more than five years work experience in project and/or program management consulting; (3) Demonstrate 10 years experience as a management consultant in project and/or program management.
• Have a minimum of four valid professional referees/references.
• Present evidence of one completed relevant management consultancy assignment.  This evidence must be presented orally to APMG.
• Provide a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate that the required standards can be met.
• Demonstrate an ability to promote a professional image with clients.

(Management Consulting is helping organizations improve their performance, primarily through the analysis of existing business problems and development of plans for improvement.)

For more information on PRINCE2, P3O, MSP or M_o_R eligibility and certification, contact APMG-UK at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com, Ronn Faigen, APMG-US at 781-275-8604, Ronn.Faigen@APMG-Usa.com or visit the APMG website at www.apmgroupltd.com.

RCs must be sponsored by an ACO.  If you are not affiliated with an ACO, you may become an RC by locating an ACO and requesting sponsorship.  Some ACOs are willing to sponsor RCs that are not direct employees; however each ACO has unique requirements for sponsorship and may have additional fees.  To locate an ACO, you may contact APMG directly at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com or visit their website here:   http://www.apmgroup.co.uk/MSP/ConsultingOrganisations/MSPACOListing.asp.  Continue reading to find out how your organization can become an ACO.

Accredited Consulting Organizations

Consultancies must meet specific eligibility requirements defined by APMG in order achieve ACO certification.  ACOs sponsor RCs that perform P3M3 assessments and, in some cases are considered a middleman between the RCs and APMG.  An ACO must have at least one sponsored RC at all times and only the RC may lead any P3M3 client assessment.  Consultants without RC accreditation may participate in the assessment process as approved by the ACO.

Consultancies must meet and demonstrate the criteria listed below to achieve ACO certification:

1. A structured method for delivery and administration of assignments
2. A documented quality control / quality management system
3. Assignment and management review procedures
4. Complaint and appeals procedures
5. Documented quality control policies and procedures
6. Documented information on Registered Consultants and their qualifications
7. Documentation control policies and procedures
8. Administrative staff training and appraisal system
9. A consulting assignment and/or engagement management system to include: receipt of initial inquiry, decision to prepare proposals, proposal preparation and pricing, assignment award negotiation and conclusion, confirmation of assignment award, assignment launch, management of assignment/progress reporting, preparation and review of final report, handover and close-out report and assignments led by an APMG approved RC having in depth knowledge, experience, confidence, interpersonal skills and ability to work with executive leadership.

Prospective ACOs must complete an application that shows evidence of one project, program and/or risk management assignment within a 12 month period.  For consultancies less than two years old, evidence of three consulting assignments within a 36 month period is required.  Prospective ACOs must be a genuine legal business as per the laws of the country in which it is headquartered.

For more information on the ACO process contact APMG-UK at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com, Ronn Faigen, APMG-US at 781-275-8604, Ronn.Faigen@APMG-Usa.com or visit the APMG website at www.apmgroupltd.com.

Fees

The following fees are effective as of September, 2009 and are subject to change.  Fees vary depending on the country and applicable currency conversion rates.  We suggest contacting APMG directly for up-to-date rates at servicedesk@apmg-uk.com.

The application fee for RC certification is £1000.00 or $1235.00 USD plus VAT.  There is an annual renewal fee of £360.50 or $445.00 USD plus VAT.

The application fee for ACO accreditation is £5000.00 or $6175.00 USD plus VAT.  There is an annual renewal fee of £2060.00 or $2545.00 USD plus VAT.

VAT is a type of tax that is calculated at the time of payment.

Fees include access to APMG’s Assessment Tool and other APMG resources.  Additional expenses may apply if travel is required.  Some credentials require interviews and oral presentations.  Additional expenses may apply if assessments take place outside the UK.

Independent RCs in need of ACO sponsorship might have additional fees payable to the ACO.  Hint: Good negotiation skills are recommended.

Helpful Links:

For a copy of the P3M3 Model and Self-Assessment and for more details regarding its usage go to the P3M3 Website at http://www.p3m3-officialsite.com/home/home.asp.

The information herein is subject to change.  For up-to-date information visit the APMG website at www.apmgroupltd.com or contact APMG directly.

OGC ® is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce in the UK, P3M3 is the intellectual property of Crown and the trademark of the OGC, PRINCE2 ® is a registered trademark of the OGC, MSP is a trademark of the OGC, M_o_R ® is a registered trademark of the OGC.

Portfolio, Programme and Project Management Maturity Model (P3M3) Review

P3M3 is a methodology for project, program and/or portfolio management capability maturity assessment and progression.  Owned by the UK Office of Government Commerce (OGC), it is available in public consultation draft form as a free download and OGC is accepting feedback and comments. 

P3M3 is free for organizations wanting to perform a self-assessment and a download is available here http://www.p3m3-officialsite.com/home/home.asp.  We are in the process of examining the details of the consultancy accreditation process and will post information to this blog once we sort it all out.

P3M3 structure is similar to the hierarchical structure of the SEI CMM, using a series of five progression levels to characterize capability maturity, beginning with Level 1 (lowest level) and progressing up to Level 5 (highest level).  These include Level 5 Optimized, Level 4 Managed, Level 3 Defined, Level 2 Repeatable and Level 1 Awareness.

There are seven key process areas (called process perspectives) at each level.  These include Management Control, Benefits Management, Financial Management, Stakeholder Management, Risk Management, Organizational Governance and Resource Management.

Each area has unique quality characteristics (called attributes) for each level of maturity.  A maturity level is measured by how an organization meets or does not meet these characteristics.

Refer to the P3M3 Public Consultation Draft V2.0 document for more information regarding maturity levels, process perspectives and attributes http://www.p3m3-officialsite.com/home/home.asp

This model provides great flexibility for an organization that wants to pursue incremental improvement in specific areas because maturity levels may be measured and improved within any process area for any discipline (project, program and/or portfolio management).  Organizations have the flexibility to decide what level of maturity they need to reach in order to satisfy business needs.  Some organizations find they can achieve great results and meet business needs without reaching the highest levels of the model across the board.  Some find they only need to achieve a certain number of quality characteristics within a process area without moving to a higher level.

Regardless of the methodology used, all capability maturity modeling begins with an assessment to determine an organizations current level of maturity.  The extent and duration of any assessment is based on the assessment scope, resource availability, organizational commitment and size, complexity of the organization.

An introductory self-assessment questionnaire is provided with the P3M3 model but it is limited.  The intent of this self-assessment is just that – a quick self-assessment.  It is a starting point that may help collect some information to determine a basic level but it does not take full advantage of P3M3. 

What happens next?  How the organization wants to position itself, budget and resource considerations, priorities and level of organizational commitment are key factors to determine next steps.  An organization may accept its current level or it may decide to develop a progression plan or initiate a project to reach the next desired level of maturity in one or more process areas for one or all disciplines.  Any progression plan or improvement project should include a means to measure controls, progress and sustainability over time.  Metrics also help justify any monetary or time investment.  Having change control in place is critical because organizations are prone to change people and processes often.  People and process changes will impact maturity progression activities. 

If an organization decides to implement process changes to improve capability, a follow-up assessment is recommended to measure the impact of those changes.  The step validates whether or not an organization makes progress towards capability maturity improvement.

P3M3 is quite user friendly but it is important to note that it is not automated, meaning a software application does not accompany the model to record results, generate reports and progression roadmaps for individual organizations performing a self-assessment and improvement exercise.  

The P3M3 Model is used in the UK and Europe and accredited organizations from these areas are listed on their website.  Our next blog post will have more details about their accreditation process for consultants.

Helpful Links: 

For a copy of the P3M3 Model and Self-Assessment and for more details regarding its usage go to the P3M3 Website at http://www.p3m3-officialsite.com/home/home.asp

OGC ® is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce in the UK and P3M3 is the intellectual property of Crown and the trademark of the OGC.

Product Profile: VyrtuNet Project Workbook Tool

We had a fantastic response to our One Year Anniversary / Customer Appreciation / Thanks for the Twollow Free Products Offer in May and want to thank everyone for the valuable feedback, encouragement and cheers.

The most popular item requested was the VyrtuNet Project Workbook and we thought posting some product details may convince you this tool is worth far more than it’s price.

The Project Workbook is a collection of project planning, tracking, and reporting tools designed in MS Excel®.  It is one workbook containing fifteen individual integrated spreadsheets and may be used as a template set for planning and managing any type of project.  The terms of use license you receive at purchase permits you to change the contents of any spreadsheet to suit your needs and requirements.  You probably will agree that the contents and layout require little cosmetic or usage alteration.  You can add content to any spreadsheet immediately.  The information you enter on one spreadsheet may auto-populate a cell in another spreadsheet so review the Workbook Guidelines to see which sheets and cells integrate.

Take a look inside…

Templates for detailed project and financial planning and reporting: Risk Management Plan, Communications Management Plan, Contact List, Business Case, Monthly Budget Forecast Planning and Reporting tool and Budget vs. Actuals Report.

Templates for project scoping, activity sequencing, scheduling, issues / action item management: Project Summary, WBS and Task List, Graphical Project Timeline Report, Issues and Action Items Register.

Templates for scope change management, status reporting, meeting minutes and post project review plus guidelines and instructions for using each spreadsheet in the workbook.

For the small price of $10.00 US you get an exceptional and all inclusive tool that is easy to use.  Project team members appreciate the simplicity of it.  Payment through Visa or MasterCard is accepted.  You may download this product immediately after purchase.

Purchase and download from here:  http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/vn22101.html

Feedback, comments and suggestions are welcomed:  products@vyrtunet.com

MS Excel ® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. VyrtuNet is in no way associated with Microsoft ®.

We have a Winner!

Thanks to everyone who submitted ideas for our Name that Blog Contest.  We received lots of good suggestions and it was difficult to decide on a name that best represents our company and the information we share.

The contest winner is Dave M. from Los Angeles, CA.  Dave submitted Peak Performance and we added P3 to it.

To show our apprecation, everyone who submitted ideas for this contest will receive the Project Workbook tool.

Stay tuned to this blog for the next series post:  P3M3 Capability Maturity Model evaluation results.

Why Care About P3M Process Capability Maturity Progression?

Some folks like it, some folks don’t.  For several reasons, probably too many to discuss.  We believe in it and hope the information and success stories we share increase awareness and promote the practice of it.

Before diving in, we want to mention that the information we share (along with the services we provide) focus on process capability, not people capability.  We leave the people part up to the practicing project-based organization as they know how to select the right people.

What is it?

The technique of process capability maturity modeling follows an organized framework for progressive improvement resulting in structured mature processes and collaborative teamwork that improve how work gets done.  The key advantages are cost savings and increased customer satisfaction through teamwork and value-added activities. 

There is a wealth of information on the Internet to define and interpret the capability maturity model concept and its origin so that will not be repeated here.  Many different techniques are widely used for capability maturity modeling.  What is not prevalent is how to select the model that works best for you and we hope to help you do just that.

Why use it?

You’ve probably noticed a shift in the way organizations want and need to do business today.  Current economic conditions are forcing all types of businesses to do more with less but doing more with less will not go away once the economy recovers.  Companies will continue to look for ways to lower operational expenses, forcing workers to take on more.  But there are other factors causing this shift.  What’s even more interesting is the fact that directness, clarity, precision and teamwork are making a come back.

For quite some time we have seen a push for individualism and competitiveness in the workplace, believing these characteristics result in higher productivity.  Slowly the art of teamwork has diminished over time.  We’ve seen lack of conformity and extreme competitive behavior resulting in failed projects and project managers are under more pressure than ever to build and sustain teamwork to meet critical success factors. 

Companies are beginning to think about and reconsider how:

• Chaos, inefficiency and resistance leads to less advancement and even job loss
• Knowledge is power but collaboration is greatness
• Socializing knowledge contributes to the growth of the whole
• People work smarter and produce more when part of a team
• Teamwork builds competitiveness as a group to win customer satisfaction
• Innovative teams seek ways to eliminate waste and do things better

Process capability progression helps organizations build and maintain a well oiled team over time, provided the organization as a whole commits to it.  The goal is synergy from start to finish in any value-added process.  But the challenge of reaching an ideal level of capability is difficult.  Some believe it is impossible to achieve — process means less flexibility, maintaining process change requires more resources and time commitment; we can’t reach our ideal level of capability if everything around us constantly changes.

It is possible to achieve greatness of any kind if you believe it is right and you have the ambition to do what it takes to achieve it.  With respect to process capability progression, organizational leadership must accept, prioritize and commit to it as part of their collection of standard business practices.  They must select an appropriate process capability model that quickly meets organizational needs with minimal overhead.  Each person involved in the start to finish processes must accept progression as a technique to achieve a desired capability level over time.  They must be flexible to accept change until the desired capability level is reached.  Leveling the progression technique into a phased approach with realistic goals, clear and concise planning, delivering achievements in the form of measurable results and frequent, continuous communication to maintain momentum increases the chance of success.

Accomplishing organizational commitment is a significant challenge and probably the most difficult part of this process.  The direction must start at the top and trickle down.  These techniques build teamwork and the quality level of organizational teamwork will increase as teams move through the progression process.  Teams transform into working smarter, building and implementing plans that deliver victory.

Next we will explore the most popular PM process capability models, starting with the P3M3, Portfolio, Programme and Project Management Maturity Model by the UK Office of Government Commerce.  We will look at its structure, usage, benefits and consider the range of flexibility and change control with regard to sustainment requirements.  We will share this information in our next blog post.

VyrtuNet Extends Free Product Offer to all Current Twitter Followers!

If you follow us as of May 4, 2009, we will offer the individual product of your choice free. 

Check our website:  www.vyrtunet.com

Click here to review our products which include project management processes, tools and templates:  http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/scan/ra=yes/tf=category%2Ctitle/fi=products.html?id=8tAFZJXi

If you are interested in this offer send email to info@vyrtunet.com and submit a request or send a Tweet.  Products are documents that will be delivered via email so please include an email address.  Our Privacy Policy is located on our website.  This offer applies to individual products, not packages.  Respondents will be prioritized by the date that their email or Tweet is received.  This offer starts today and expires May 15, 2009.

We are excited to extend this offer to our Twitter followers.  Enjoy!

VyrtuNet CEO

The P3M Process Capability Maturity Model Challenge

With over 90 different project, program and portfolio management process capability maturity models available, how do you determine which model works best for your organizational needs and goals?

Today we launch a challenging exercise to compare and report on the most popular capability models.  We hope to produce a comprehensive collection of information to help individuals and project-based organizations:

• Learn about the practice of process capability modeling
• Compare and contrast different capability model processes
• Examine various types of modeling output
• Select and apply the best model

We will post most of our results to this blog with a comprehensive report made available at the end of this exercise.  Stay tuned for Part 1 of this series where we will examine the practice of process capability maturity modeling.

VyrtuNet Offers Free Products & Services for Local Orgs

VyrtuNet values community service and contributes to create a positive change.  Given today’s economic challenges and our commitment to provide exceptional products and services to enable organizational efficiency, we are extending an offer to local individuals and project-based institutions to help shape their future.  If you or your organization is local to the Seattle/Bellevue Washington area, we will offer the individual product or service of your choice pro bono. 

Check our website to review our products and services:  www.vyrtunet.com

Click here to review the specific types of services we offer: http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/vyrtunet/services.html?id=GMxc5BuY

Click here to review project management processes, tools and templates:  http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/scan/ra=yes/tf=category%2Ctitle/fi=products.html?id=8tAFZJXi

Seattle/Bellevue individual project managers, product managers, project-based organizations, educational institutions and non-profits interested in this offer must email info@vyrtunet.com to submit a request.  This offer applies to individual products and services, not packages.  Please include contact information and request product or service recommendations if you need assistance.  Respondents will be prioritized by the date that their email is received.  This offer starts today and expires May 15, 2009.

We are excited to extend this offer to our local community and hope you are able to benefit from it.

 

CEO, VyrtuNet Consulting
www.vyrtunet.com

Name that Blog Contest

Welcome to VyrtuNet’s new blog.  This blog will be used to share information and techniques in the areas of project, program and portfolio management:

Methodology and Business Process Development

Process Capability Maturity Assessment and Progression

Lean/Six Sigma

Project Analysis & Recovery

Today we are launching a contest to name our blog.  We are looking for a unique name that compliments this blog and the type of information we plan to share.  For more information on any of the above focus areas please see  http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/vyrtunet/services.html?id=jZ8cVYva.  If we select your blog name we will deliver a free copy of the VyrtuNet Project Workbook tool to you.  You may preview this tool here:  http://www.vyrtunet.com/cgi-bin/vn/vn22101.html.

Please submit your ideas in the comments section or via email to info@vyrtunet.com.  This contest closes on 5/21/09.  Please provide an email address so we can email a copy of the Project Workbook tool if you win.  If you are concerned about privacy, we will not share or spam your personal information.  You may review our Privacy Policy at www.vyrtunet.com.

We look forward to receiving your ideas (please keep entries clean and professional) and we hope you enjoy our new blog.