Managing Project Interdependencies
Managing project dependencies (or interdependencies) is an often-missed tactical capability of project portfolio management (PPM). Yet, managing project dependencies is an important part of portfolio planning so as to tactically coordinate project execution. Successful management of project…
How To Create A Successful Work Intake Process
Quick answer: A project intake process is how project proposals are created, reviewed and taken to a go/no-go decision by senior leaders. A good process gives every request a single front door, a standard intake form and clear steps, so the PMO can see the entire project pipeline and approve higher…
The Complete Guide to the Project Management Office
Quick answer: A PMO (project management office) is a team that standardizes and oversees how projects are delivered. There are three primary types: a project management office focused on project delivery, a program management office focused on programs, and a portfolio management office focused on…
Benefits Realization and Portfolio Value Management
Quick answer: Benefits realization management is the practice of capturing the actual benefits, tangible and intangible, that a project delivers after it is completed, so leaders can answer “did we get the benefits we expected?” Project portfolio value management is the framework PMOs use to plan,…
Best Practices for Resource Capacity Planning
Quick answer: Resource capacity planning compares the demand for project resources with the people available to do the work. PMOs getting started should keep it simple: define what to measure, estimate effort at the project or phase level rather than by task, and hold regular capacity reviews to…
The PMO Guide to Portfolio Management Charts
Quick answer: PMO dashboards and project portfolio charts turn project data into decisions. The most useful include work intake charts, the risk-value bubble chart for prioritization, resource heatmaps for capacity, portfolio health dashboards for project performance and planning matrices for the…
Lessons Learned in the Age of AI: Turning Hindsight Into Foresight
Every project management framework tells us to capture lessons learned. The PMBOK Guide calls for it, every methodology endorses it, and most of us were trained to hold a lessons learned session at the end of a project. And yet, in nearly 20 years of working with PMOs at Fortune 500 companies, I…
Portfolio Communication-The Official Guide
Portfolio communication is the real heartbeat of project portfolio management. Strong communication keeps the organization aligned on what is most important. This thought is exemplified by Patrick Lencioni’s classic quote, “If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same…
Use Your PMO to Drive Strategic Execution
Strategic execution is not easy – in fact, you almost always fail: » 90% of corporate strategies are never implemented » 70% of complex initiatives fail » 67% of projects are either challenged or impaired One of the continuing difficulties executives face is this ‘strategy-to-reality’ gap –…
Portfolio Planning Drives Strategic Execution
Portfolio planning drives strategic execution, but when compared to strategic planning and project planning, very few companies do an adequate job of portfolio planning. Project portfolio management is about strategic execution with the goal of maximizing business value delivery. Successful…