When building your project management method, it is essential to frame it with at least four key strategies for: (1) quality management, (2) configuration management, (3) change management and (4) risk management. Each of these strategic areas needs a well-defined and approved standard in place to govern project activities that typically take place at an organizational level. If you already have standard, formal corporate or organizational approaches in these areas, great! If not, get to work and define them as part of your method!
Ideally, each area should have a standard that summarizes the organization’s management system structure, the high-level management approach or strategy, the responsibilities of management on the strategy of that area, the cycle for ensuring and improving outcomes, and any project-level plans needed for implementation and maintenance. These high-level documents are meant to be quite concise, no more than two to three pages in length.
The standards will be accompanied by a more detailed manual, summarizing the principles and approach for staff members. The manuals tell folks how to implement the high-level strategies from the standards. These manuals are not intended to supersede individual program manuals or procedures, but to present principles that guide staff members in their work in various units and across all functions.
Essentially, the manuals give a framework ensuring that the systems developed and deployed by the organization meet the associated standard and add value to the organization. The manuals should have more detailed content than their accompanying standards. They define the specific strategy in greater detail. This includes addressing the scope of the strategy, any specific roles and responsibilities, key deliverables to be produced, the detailed activities to be performed, the timing of those activities and the tools and techniques to be applied.
So here’s another set of eight documents (four pairs of two) that you might consider adding to your project management method to add consistency and definition to your approach. Good luck!
Using the PMBOK® Guide to Build a Practical Project Management Process – Position Paper
This Position Paper offers an instructive and insightful approach to applying the various principles of the PMBOK® Guide (A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, 4th Edition) when building a project management process that aligns with the unique needs and structure of your organization. Download your free copy here!
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