Project Management Assessment

Improvement of the management of costs, performance and of the schedule situation in a company project landscape, in order to be able to cope with the growing amount of project work and increasing pressure to be efficient...

TARGET: The PMA is used to assess an existing project management system and the more effective arrangement of the project management, as a whole. The target is to quickly improve the cost, performance and schedule situation of current and future project portfolios at the level of multi-project management and programme management, as a whole. In this way the growing share of project work - 500 % in the next 20 years - and the increasing pressure to be efficient can be effectively faced.

TARGET GROUP: Managing directors, directors of divisions, technical managers, programme managers

METHODS: As it is dealing with the assessment and arrangement of the whole project management system, some or even all the projects will be included in the analysis. For the target, to provide the management of the company with information about the quality of the project management and the need for change, the following methods are part of the PMA:

* criteria evaluation using the 'Project Excellence Model' and on the basis of the EFQM- assessment fields * [European Foundation for Quality Management]
* standardised assessment guidelines for top management, project leaders, as well as project members
* computer based evaluation matrices
* report of the results and assessment matrix for the main fields of action
* workshops
* PM-Reference processes
* evaluation
* followed by Project Performance Center

CONTENT: The procedure is divided into five main steps.

[1] Assessment: A standardised evaluation of documents and guidline based interviews result in a criteria evaluation adapted for the customer using the   'Project Excellence Model' and on the basis of the EFQM- assessment fields. A best-practice-analysis is included in this. On request the results of the analysis will be supplemented with benchmarks.

[2] Evaluation: The results of the analysis provide information about really important strengths and strengths worth maintaining in the project work of the company, as well as the team. At the same time need for action and chances are derived, whereupon these are ranked. The most effective set screws to improve the project portfolio and the project management in the whole organisation are focused on here. The results are summarized in a report together with the results of the assessment itself.

[3] Application: In the application phase it is all about deriving consequences at a management level and about the qualification of the project management system [Reference process].
a. Presentation and discussion of the results at higher levels of management [multi-project management level], deriving consequences where necessary.
b. Development of one or more reference processes for  project management.
c. Discussion of the results in workshops with the project leaders and members of the project to develop an acceptance of the results and their consequences, as well as to enable them to put them into action.

[4] Ex post evaluation of the realisation and of the new manangement instruments and reference processes,  including a report with information about changes and if necessary, implementation of additional or alternative tools. This phase is frequently accompanied by consulting and coaching at higher levels of management.

[5] Optionally, the Project Performance Center is used for individual project teams or for those teams in strategically significant projects.

BENEFIT: You know the strengths and reserves of your project management and can get it fit for the future. The portfolio of your projects can now be strategically optimised. You have the different projects more under control and have free resources more quickly at your disposal.[Example]

* EFQM-evaluation criteria: