| For any organisation or individual that needs to | | | | Aims of MSP Programme Management: |
| manage and control related projects (portfolio of | | | | - Provide a framework of best practice principles - |
| projects), Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) | | | | Define and implement the governance requirements |
| programme management is a management tool for | | | | for the programme - Enable practitioners to identify |
| bringing together people, activities and information to | | | | the aim of the programme - Envisage benefits for |
| achieve the end goal. | | | | the organisation - Adapt theory to practice - |
| History of MSP Programme Management | | | | Improve decision making and implement beneficial |
| MSP programme management was developed by the | | | | change - To be available for organisations and |
| Office of Government Commerce (OGC), an | | | | individuals |
| independent Office of the UK Treasury, and | | | | What MSP Programme Management can do for a |
| supported by a full range of commercial partners. It | | | | Business |
| was first released in 1999, and in 2007 a third version | | | | Working with MSP programme management will have |
| was released to reflect the evolving knowledge of | | | | a benefit for the whole workforce. MSP has a |
| programme management. MSP programme | | | | standard and consistent approach to programme |
| management is the UK Government Best Practice | | | | management. It provides a framework for |
| standard for effective programme management, and | | | | practitioners to direct the change process while |
| is a globally recognised qualification. | | | | ensuring the focus is maintained on the business |
| What is Programme Management? | | | | objectives. MSP practitioners will be able to define the |
| A programme is made up of a number of projects | | | | programme and state how the organisation will be |
| identified by an organisation that will deliver a defined | | | | different after the change has been implemented. |
| objective, or set of objectives, for the organisation. | | | | They will manage a business case for the programme |
| A programme can only succeed if the projects within | | | | and plan the work so it will have the desired end |
| the programme are completed, therefore, without | | | | result. MSP practitioners will organise the workforce |
| programme management, the projects would be | | | | to ensure everyone knows their responsibilities and |
| uncoordinated and not integrated into a final goal. | | | | ensure lines of communication are kept open. Any |
| Programme management is becoming an increasingly | | | | issues that arise during the programme will be |
| important aspect of managing changes within | | | | resolved and quality will be maintained by auditing, |
| business - whether it internal, such as increasing the | | | | which will ensure standards are being kept. They will |
| range of products, or external, such as implementing | | | | identify and manage risks, and keep up to date |
| new government policy. Programme management is a | | | | information of the programme. Resources are used |
| structured way of handling change proactively and | | | | efficiently through project prioritisation, and |
| provides a framework for handling complexity and | | | | timescales and budgets are effectively controlled. |
| risk. | | | | Lastly they will close the programme and ensure the |
| MSP defines programme management as "the action | | | | final goal has been achieved. |
| of carrying out the coordinated organisation, direction, | | | | MSP programme management is designed to reduce |
| and implementation of a dossier of projects and | | | | bureaucracy by focusing on what is necessary; |
| transformational activities (i.e. the programme) to | | | | avoiding duplication, and delivering effective control |
| achieve outcomes and realise benefits of strategic | | | | over the programme. |
| importance to the business." | | | | Conclusion |
| MSP programme management is designed for any | | | | MSP programme management gives added value to |
| organisation or individual that needs a controlled | | | | any organisation that needs to manage and control a |
| approach to managing programmes, and is intended | | | | number of projects, by providing a framework for |
| for Senior Managers, Project Managers, Programme | | | | practitioners to work with that has been underpinned |
| Office Staff, and Project and Programme | | | | by current research. |
| Management Consultants. | | | | |