About a month ago the PM2 (Project Management Methodology) was approved by EC. The new standard actively implements both waterfall and adaptive project management models.

I consider the following as the main advantages of this new standard:

• It is short and simple;
• Standard is separated from tools and techniques; and from Portfolio management as well;
• Clearly described roles;
• Impressing clear for understanding illustrations;
• It’s free!

After the short introduction and basic description in Chapter I, basic definitions and standard area are defined in Chapter II:

• Project and project management definitions
• Project Support Office
• Project, programme, and portfolio management areas;
• Project environment
• Project manager competencies.

The third chapter contains general overview of project management methodology based on five-phase model:

initiating – planning – executing  – closing – monitoring 7 control.

Each phase is described in a classical way: inputs – tasks – outputs.

Adaptive (Agile) approach is described in a special Appendix E. PM2 and Agile, while interaction between project and portfolio management is in the Appendix D. PM2 and Portfolio Management. I consider this kind of description very precise and clear for understanding and implementation.

The fourth chapter describes typical project roles:

• • Project Stakeholders
  • Project Organisation and Roles
  • Appropriate Governance Body (AGB)
  • Project Steering Committee (PSC)
  • Project Owner (PO)
  • Solution Provider (SP)
  • Business Manager (BM)
  • Project Manager (PM)
  • Business Implementation Group (BIG)
  • Project Core Team (PCT)
  • Project Support Team (PST)
  • RAM (RASCI) — Documenting Responsibility Assignments

I am very impressed with clearness of roles description.

Chapters from 5th to 8th describes the consequent project management phases: initiating, planning, executing, closing, and monitoring and control.  The management phase descriptions are separated from tools and techniques, which are described in details in Appendix C  Project Management Tools & Techniques.

Appendix B contains structure for the main project documents:

• Requirements Management Plan
• Project Change Management Plan
• Risk Management Plan
• Issue Management Plan
• Quality Management Plan
• Communications Management Plan
• Change Log
• Risk Log
• Issue Log
• Decision Log