PPM Capability Planning

Do you need a plan to enhance your organization’s project
management capability?

Step 1: Understanding the current status

Prior to developing a plan it may be important to first consider your organization’s current project management capability level. The following is a very simple guide that may indicate your current capability level. Such assessments help gain agreement on the need for improvement.

Level 1	Does your organization have difficulties understanding the difference between projects and routine work? There is no formal way to plan and manage projects? Do staff require extra support to kick-off basic project management tasks?
Level 2	Does your organization have a consistent minimum standard for project management? Are successes mostly due to the dedication of specific people? Are staff able to link their projects to strategic goals? Are project accountabilities clear and accepted?
Level 3	Do staff have the skill and confidence to adapt their management approaches based on the scale and complexity of the work, leading to: Clarity in the project’s management approach? Consistent achievement of performance goals?
Level 4	Does your organization actively collect performance data to improve the management and planning of future projects and performance goals?
Level 5	Does your organization apply continuous improvement, proactively optimizing processes, capability and technology to support the organization’s ability to deliver and predict project and organizational performance?

For a more definitive approach you may consider the engagement of an independent facilitator to help assess your organization’s project management capability. Contact us to learn more.

Step 2: Confirm your improvement areas

Capability assessments tend to drill down into specific focus areas such as the following 11 competency areas. This helps confirm and align your training spend to your organization’s project management needs:

Stakeholder engagement & communications planning
Risk and issue management
Benefits management
Resource management
Planning and control
Business case development
Scope and change control
Time management
Cost management
Human resource management
Project, programme, portfolio sponsorship

Step 3: Develop an improvement plan

Based on the required improvement areas identified in step 2, capability development aims can be supported by choosing from our 1-day project management workshops as a cost-effective means to enhance your organization’s project management knowledge and skill base.

Step 4: Deliver and track performance

A dedicated plan with performance measurement criteria will enable the tracking of capability improvements from current performance status towards target levels.

The diagram below is a reminder that step-up improvements in capability are part of a ‘journey’ to improve organizational performance.