Portfolio, Programme, Project Office (P3O) - Maturity Levels
Resourcing a departmental P3O will depend on the size of the programme and project portfolio being delivered by the department as well as its project leadership and delivery skills, experience, and capabilities. These factors, alongside the strategic priority and remit given to the P3O will determine initial to medium term staffing levels.
Maturity Levels
The degree of value-added service the P3O provides will vary and usually falls into one of four levels:
- First level P3Os will have a mainly administrative role with a primary focus on requesting, collating, and reporting programme and project information for senior managers
- Second level P3Os will add some services around providing basic best practice advice and guidance, as well as resources like standards and templates for common documents or processes
- A third level P3O will provide specialist programme and project consultancy in areas such as business cases, risk management or benefits realisation. It may also provide short-term programme/project management input and specialist input on methods, for example PRINCE2 and MSP, and tools such as MS Project.
- A top level P3O occupies a strategic position within the department/organisation. In NICS terms, it may provide direct support to an Accounting Officer and have Board level representation and a key role in direction setting, planning and challenge on matters of organisational change and service delivery