Project Portfolio Management Strategy Guide
In today’s business landscape, project portfolio management (PPM) has become an increasingly crucial practice for project-oriented firms. For those businesses looking into the approach, this Project Portfolio Management Strategy Guide aims to clarify the difference between project and portfolio management, cover PPM basics like methodologies and capabilities, and offer insights into effectively implementing PPM. Serving as a valuable resource for project teams, leaders, PMOs, and executives, it addresses challenges, provides an overview of PPM tools, and introduces the next step — Enterprise Project Portfolio Management.
Table of Contents
- What is Project Portfolio Management (PPM)?
- The Difference Between Project and Portfolio Management
- Project Portfolio Management Basics: Methodologies and Capabilities
- Tips and Benefits of Implementing Project Portfolio Management
- Common Project Portfolio Management Challenges
- What is Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (EPPM)?
- PPM Tools to Empower Project Teams
Project Portfolio Management Basics: Methodologies and Capabilities
Let’s explore the basics of project portfolio management: methodologies, frameworks, and critical capabilities.
Understanding Project Portfolio Management Methodologies
Project management is a process-oriented discipline. The most widely used PPM methods include those below. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. Check out our full breakdown of project portfolio management methodologies to learn more about these examples and more, as defined by the project management institute.
These methods are used in tandem with project portfolio management tools like Sciforma.
Waterfall
This historical approach follows a linear downward flow from project initiation until ultimate delivery. Although it’s often considered somewhat rigid, Waterfall provides a well-structured framework suited to large projects.
Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM)
Instead of scheduling tasks in a set order, CCPM estimates the likely duration of activities. The goal is to find out the most efficient sequencing. The “critical chain” this process creates helps with identifying resources that are under the greatest strain at each phase in order to enable preventive or corrective action. This constraint-based method can be highly effective in optimizing the performance of small to mid-sized projects.
Agile
Project Portfolio Management Basics: Critical Capabilities
Regardless of the methodology, a solid PPM strategy should include the following core capabilities:
Idea and Demand Management
This ensures that limited resources are directed to the best ideas and most promising projects. It plays a pivotal role in aligning projects with organizational needs and stakeholder interests, which is critical for achieving long-term success.
Strategic Portfolio Management
Even the most well-formulated strategies can fail due to poor execution. Strategic portfolio management focuses on translating strategy formulation into action. How? By ensuring alignment between business goals and project investments at the portfolio and program levels.
Resource and Capacity Management
Project organizations operate with limited resources (whether human, financial, or material). Resource and capacity management helps PMOs have the right resources with the right skills available for the highest value projects, working at the optimal utilization rate.
Visual Collaboration
The right PPM solution supports intuitive collaboration with its ergonomic, easy-to-use interfaces. It allows teams to structure, track, and share progress on any activity (project, action plan, initiative, etc.).
Project Planning and Management
Effective project managers plan out, schedule, and manage the work that needs to be done. A PPM solution like Sciforma enables organizations to achieve the project management golden triangle of strategic goals: on-scope, on-cost, and on time.
Time Tracking and Management
To manage a project, project managers must know how the work is progressing compared to the master schedule and budget. Tracking user time works wonderfully for this. It also helps ensure team accountability, increase productivity, improve decision-making, and enhance project planning.
Cost and Budget Management
Every project involves costs. The larger and more complex the project, the more costly to execute in terms of time and money. To secure project funding, a solid project budget plan is key, as it provides the basis for project cost control and has a direct effect on the company’s financial viability.
