Thursday, October 30, 2003

A Portfolio of Project Portfolio Management Links -- While I'm incubating on the important portfolio and prioritization entry for my Enterprise PM series (which has already touched on Project Planning and Promising and Strategy), I thought I'd share the way too many links I've collected over the past few months.

- Enterprise Project Management and the Theory of Conscious Alignment
- Portfolio Management - How to Do It Right
- Right People - Right Projects - Right Time
- Powerful Portfolios
- Lessons From the Field - What State and Local Governments Can Teach Feds About Project Management

These were all triggered by the first in the list, from David Fletcher of the State of Utah. It makes a lot of sense that in these days of state budget crises in the US, the need to carefully pick and choose the contents of a portfolio is at the top of his mind. The "Right People" link is to a page that offers an excellent video (in realmedia format) on linking strategy, culture, and project portfolio. The interesting bit is the inclusion of rankings for cultural alignment as well as the usual strategic.

- Chosing Projects: Selfish Goals
- Picking and Choosing

Jack Vinson's "Selfish Goals" posting points to one on "Picking and Choosing" projects in the context of product development in general and drug discovery specifically. I particularly like the almost contradictory advice to "avoid 'sure things' at all costs" and to "avoid projects that have multiple 'and then we get lucky' steps."

- The Three Legs Of Portfolio Management

A short piece emphasizing "fit, utility, and balance."

- Portfolio Power
- Working the Numbers
- Project Portfolio Management Starter Kit

A few pieces from Gantthead, including a rudimentary Excel template (free registration required). The "Working the Numbers" piece touches on metrics used to assess portfolios.

- Getting Your Project Priorities Right
- Which Projects are Worth Your Time?
- Project Portfolio Management

A handful of IT/Technology portfolio pieces. But keep in mind that the real portfolio that needs to be managed in an organization goes far beyond just the tech stuff.

- The Project Portfolio is the Truest Measure of Organizational Intent
- Aligned For Change
- Connecting the Dots: Aligning Projects with Objectives in Unpredictable Times

A summary, and article, and a book about/from a pair of authors that gets into the all-important issue of strategic alignment of project portfolios.

- Project Portfolio Management

A high level presentation on the topic from Max Wideman.

- Portfolio Knowledge
- Bringing Discipline to IT with Project Portfolio Management
- Why Corporate Leaders Should Make Project Portfolio Management a Priority

A trio of links from folks trying to sell you PPM tools, but still worth a look.

- It Ain't the Tools

No false modesty here.

- Strategic Navigation: A Systems Approach to Business Strategy
- Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO: Multiplying ROI at Warp Speed

A couple books I've mentioned way too much in this weblog, but for good reason.

There's even more, but this is probably enough to keep you busy. Watch this space for my take. Coming soon, unless someone out there hires me for an intensive engagement to implement the kinds of things I talk about here. If what you read here makes sense, go ahead and introduce me to your boss. I dare you. After all, without billings, it's just a hobby.

posted by Frank - Permanent Link - |

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