WBS Tasks for a PPM Problem

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

  Governance   PMO   Portfolio Management   Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)  

If you are trying to set up project portfolio management, the project you build to do so will run smack into a rather unique workforce problem. Your workforce will be unusually high-prestige and the traditional leadership/stakeholder/workforce roles will become blurred. Never fear, however, there is a way to be successful in such an environment using your project management organizing tool, the Work Breakdown Structure.

Your WBS will help you work carefully with three separate partner groups: senior management, the governance council and the PMO.

Senior Management must participate to provide direction throughout as expected. They may designate representatives to work on the project. Where the roles get blurred is that these very high-prestige individuals will become stakeholders in a process that cuts across many boundaries to grant life or death to their projects. There may be some control issues. Make sure they are included in your stakeholder management tasks.

Members of the Governance Council (or similarly named committee associated with the PPM function) must be identified. They will eventually have to select/reject/de-select projects following the new process. Roles get blurred in your PPM project because this group actually becomes the user group in the classic sense. This is a user group with high-prestige membership and you must treat them accordingly. …

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.