The P3O Practitioner Certificate

What is P3O?situations.
Project, Programme and Portfolio Office is the supportMore recently, the APMG launched their long-awaited
office established to enable management of projectsP3O Practitioner qualification. In January 2010 Richard
and programmes within an effective portfolioPharro, CEO of the APM Group, explained the
throughout a business or an organisation. The P3Orationale behind this new, higher-level certificate:
training-course provides essential guidance for any"Since the launch of the method we have seen great
individual involved in setting up project/programmeinterest in P3O and we are pleased to support people
management structures or a project and programmewho want to demonstrate their understanding of P3O
management support function within an organisation.with a recognised, professional qualification. This should
Learning to organise and develop a range of projectsfurther underpin the value their organisation will get
and programmes for various purposes - businessfrom adopting P3O"
change, maintaining high quality standards, improving aWhereas the P3O foundation-level qualification is ideal
service, developing new products, installing excellentfor those working with or in a Project, Programme and
training programs - is an essential component in thePortfolio Office structure, P3O Practitioner is designed
skill-set of the professional programme manager andfor those responsible for setting up, managing, or
business leader.improving a P3O structure.
P3O (project, programme and portfolio managementP3O Practitioner Exam
office) is the best practice management methodologyLike the PRINCE2 and MSP practitioner examinations,
developed by the OGC as an extension of the earlierthe P3O practitioner exam is an objective-test style
project management and programme managementpaper. P3O exam candidates have 135 minutes to
guidelines (PRINCE2 project management, MSPanswer 7 questions that test their understanding of
programme management). It is compatible with bothwhen, how and why a P3O model becomes suitable
methodologies, as well as with the ITIL (IT servicefor an organisation, the functions and techniques
management) best practice guidelines.developed within the P3O guidance, and the value and
In fact, not only is P3O compatible with these earlierstrengths of the various P3O models.
methodologies, but by synthesising the knowledge, skillsWhat does this mean for you?
and organisational structures established through theP3O is the next step after PRINCE2 and MSP in the
more foundational management methodologies, itdevelopment of management methodologies for more
facilitates the consistent and effective application ofefficient business practice. This does not mean,
these methodologies at every level of the organisation.however, that P3O can wait until the PRINCE2 and
Without an efficient support office for project andMSP management structures are running perfectly.
programme management, the project managers andWithout a support office geared specifically to enable
programme managers are effectively lost at sea.project management and programme management
P3O Qualificationswithin an organisation, not only will your projects and
The P3O Foundation certificate has been availableprogrammes be hindered by the lack of a coherent
since 2008, through the APM Group. Followingframework for management, but those that do
accredited P3O training-course, P3O students aresucceed may not fulfill your actual business needs. A
examined in the structures, roles and responsibilities ofsolid P3O-modelled support office is the key to
the P3O body of knowledge, and are tested in theirorganising project- and programme-related activities on
ability to apply this knowledge to real-life businessany large or long-term scale.