Europe’s

PM² Project Management Methodology�

Providing a common approach to project management for UCD staff

Frank Desmond, UCD

Slide 1

Why Change?

In 2019 - rolled out a custom project management framework for UCD IT Services, but three key challenges:

1. the extensive setup effort required
2. the difficulty in gaining agreement on PM language and standards
3. the time consumed creating and maintaining templates and training materials

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Slide 2

What is PM²?

PM² (pronounced “P-M squared”) is the official Project Management Methodology of the European Union Institutions. It incorporates elements from PMBoK Guide and PRINCE2®.

• light and easy to use.
• provides open and free access (via a CC licence) to PM² resources, including a Project Management guide, templates and training material.

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The PM² methodology is open to all

Since 2023, PM² is being adopted as the recommended Project Management Methodology for staff across UCD

PM² is published internally by the European Commission

Since 2020, PM² has been at the centre of the UCD IT Services Project Management approach

2008

2018

2020

2023

Slide 3

Why PM²?

Slide 4

Why PM²?

Open and free access to the PM² Project Management Methodology Guide

(which is clear and concise at 85 pages and appendices)

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Slide 5

Why PM²?

Open and free access to project management Templates…

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Slide 6

Why PM²?

Supported by a comprehensive set of free Training Material including…

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Slide 7

Why PM²?

… a strong Project Governance Model (clear roles and responsibilities are at the core of the methodology)

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Slide 8

Why PM²?

… and a clearly defined Project Lifecycle

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Contains minor UCD IT Services Customisation

Slide 9

… all of this provides us with a common language and approach to project management for UCD staff

PM² Programme and Portfolio Management

In addition PM² provides Publications and Resources for:

• Programme Management
• and Portfolio Management

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components grouped together for better strategic and financial control and reporting

Slide 11

The European Commission Methodologies Office promotes these PM² Resources

Slide 12

PM² user group - PM² Alliance

Slide 13

The Outcomes of adopting PM²?

Let's revisit the three challenges we faced in 2019:

• Extensive setup effort → Solved. PM² is a massive time saver, providing a lean, proven foundation!
• Difficulty gaining agreement on PM language and standards→ Solved. PM²'s common language improves cross-unit communication and collaboration.
• Time consumed on templates and training material → Solved. Large efficiencies by leveraging PM² Resources.

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… The result is an effective project management standard for UCD staff, whose adoption is expanding annually …

Slide 14

Advice for rolling out PM²

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• Start small with a pilot in one unit
• Use basic elements of the methodology first before adding more advanced elements (E.g. start with a small set of key templates)
• Setup a related website with PM² Resources
• Communicate the core elements of the Project Management approach in clear and simple language
• Share the approach with and take feedback from your institution’s Project Management Community of Practice (or form one if none exists)
• Seek support from senior leadership
• Add formal training to your institution’s annual staff training offerings
• For EU Funded projects, extra guidance is available in a supplementary guidebook
• Adopting a common PM approach is a multi-year organisational change programme

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Slide 15

Interested in learning more about PM²?

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Links to key resources, and related websites are available on the UCD IT PMO website

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Go to www.ucd.ie/itservices/pmo/ (or Google “IT PMO”)

and click on ‘PM² Project Management Methodology’

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Slide 16

Thank You�

Frank Desmond, UCD

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www.ucd.ie/itservices/pmo/

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Slide 17

Copyright

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• PM² is an open-source project management methodology created and supported by the European Commission.
• Reproduction and reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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