TABLE OF CONTENTS There are several essential elements needed to address these challenges and put a portfolio-based project management structure in place within an organization, including:
Project roles and responsibilities awareness program
Project identification and project prioritization process
Project skills development
Portfolio management and administration
Let us now examine each one of these elements to cement a solid understandingof portfolio-based project management.
The focus here is to raise awareness of the virtues of portfolio-based project management among management and staff. It is the most direct way in which to address the challenges of derisory commitment and inadequate foundationsetting discussed earlier. The awareness program can be done on a casual basis by developing an informative briefing and going on the lecture circuit within the company presenting the material to groups of personnel from across the enterprise. More elaborate programs will provide for travel to remote offices. However, teleconferencing and videoconferencing represent less-expensive alternatives.
The executive offices are the first stop of the tour. It is here that their commitment can be garnered. As mentioned earlier, this will be a challenge. But, once given the go ahead to take the show to the masses, the groundswell of support that will follow may be too much for the management team to resist.
With that said, it is imperative that the briefings are concise and that the project-management message is delivered so that it demystifies portfolio-based project-management and defines the major roles and responsibilities that the structure...
