P3O® (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices) Foundation and Practitioner Certificate Course

Don’t get left behind…

“P3O is universally applicable guidance to help organizations build the necessary support structures that enable the successful delivery of their portfolios of change programmes and projects”.
Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices 2013

As businesses increasingly adapt portfolio, programme and project management, there is an increasing need for an effective infrastructure, namely the programme/project office, to support them.

The need for an effective support structure increases not only with the number of programmes and projects undertaken, but also with the significance placed on these initiatives.

Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O®) is the latest best practice guidance from AXELOS addressing this functionality.

The P3O® model provides a decision and delivery support structure for enabling change within an organisation. This may be provided through a single permanent office such as, for example the Portfolio Office, Centre of Excellence, Enterprise or Corporate Programme Office. Alternatively it may be provided through a linked set of offices (portfolio office, programme offices, project offices).

P3O® is a Registered Trade Mark of AXELOS Limited.
PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of AXELOS Limited.
MSP® is a Registered Trade Mark of AXELOS Limited.
The Swirl logo™ is a Trade Mark of AXELOS Limited. 

P3O® is aligned with PRINCE2® and MSP®, and balances a set of principles, processes and techniques to facilitate effective portfolio, programme and project management. This workshop aims to enable participants to demonstrate a sound understanding and informed appreciation of programme and project support office functions with the view to act as informed members and advocates of a P3O® (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices).

Foundation Workshop

Workshop Objective

The Foundation workshop aims to certify participants in P3O® and enable them to demonstrate a good understanding of the programme and project support office functions, acting as an informed member of a P3O®. Overall, this workshop assists in developing an appreciation of the issues and challenges that face Programme and Project Managers, specifically enabling participants to:

• Understand P3O® models
• Know the arguments for establishing a P3O® model and measuring its success
• Describe the purpose and roles of P3O® members
• Understand the key functions and services of a P3O®
• Describe the tools and techniques used by a P3O®
• Build the right P3O® model to adapt to the organisations needs, taking account of size and maturity levels.

Practitioner Workshop

Workshop Objective

The Practitioner workshop aims to certify participants in P3O® and enable them to demonstrate a good understanding of the programme and project support office functions, acting as an informed member of a P3O®. Overall, this workshop assists in developing an appreciation of the issues and challenges that face Programme and Project Managers, specifically enabling participants to:

• Understand P3O® models
• Know the arguments for establishing a P3O® model and measuring its success
• Describe the purpose and roles of P3O® members
• Understand the key functions and services of a P3O®
• Describe the tools and techniques used by a P3O®
• Build the right P3O® model to adapt to the organisations needs, taking account of size and maturity levels.

Workshop Content Summary

Overview and Principles

• Definitions of portfolio, programme and project
• Context of P3O®
• P3O® governance responsibilities
• P3O® decision support role
• Sources of guidance

Why have a P3O®

• The value of a P3O® to the Organisation
• How value is added
• The P3O® Value Matrix
• Principles for measuring success
• Examples of measurable KPIs

P3O® models

• Models names and features
• Functional areas, skills and competence requirements
• Determining an appropriate model
• P3O® reporting lines
• Information Assurance
• Sizing and Tailoring

P3O® Roles

• Required skills and competencies
• Staffing considerations
• Management and generic roles
• Functional roles

Techniques and Tools

• Overview of tools and techniques
• Benefits of using tools and techniques
• Critical success factors
• P3O® tools
• P3O® techniques

P3O® Implementation

• The permanent P3O® lifecycle
• Key activities in the lifecycle Definition Stage
• Reporting flows in the Blueprint
• The P3O® Temporary Model Lifecycle
• Temporary Programme or Project office focus

Successful completion of these workshops will enable participants to gain an understanding of the following:

• An Introduction to P3O® – Discussing why, when and how to use P3O® models including the difference between portfolio, programmes and project environments and their different requirements
• Value – What value P3O®s can bring to the organisation including a business case, funding models and performance measures
• Model – An overview of the different P3O® models with examples
• Functions and Techniques – Details on the functions/services and techniques/tools used by units of a P3O® model.

Foundation Workshop:

By completing the P3O® Foundation Workshop (3 days), the participant will have sufficient knowledge to sit the P3O® Foundation Examination. The Foundation examination is a 40 minute, 50 question multiple-choice paper. The pass mark is 30/50.

Please Note

• Examinations are undertaken on the final day of each workshop
• The APMG administers the P3O® examination scheme.

Practitioner Workshop:

By completing the Practitioner Workshop (2 days), the participant will have sufficient knowledge to sit the APM Group P3O® Practitioner Examination. The Practitioner examination is a two and a quarter hours (including reading time) Objective Testing paper based on a scenario. The paper consists of 7 questions with a total of 70 marks available. Reference to the P3O® guide (no other materials) is permitted during the exam. The pass mark is 50%.

Please Note

• Examinations are undertaken on the final day of each workshop
• A P3O® Foundation exam pass is a pre-requisite to sitting the P3O® Practitioner exam
• The APMG administers the P3O® examination scheme.