Using the Project Management Maturity Model, 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 13 Using the PMMM to Extract Best Practices

Introduction

The ultimate purpose of using a PMMM is continuous improvement efforts. Unfortunately, for many companies the time required for continuous improvement efforts is quite long, and the improvement are done in small increments. By focusing on capturing best practices and lessons learned as part of the assessment, the speed by which continuous improvement efforts are implemented can be accelerated.

As the relative importance of project management permeates each facet of the business, knowledge needs to be captured regarding best practices in project management as well as other business processes. PMMM assessments are not restricted to project management–related questions; the assessments can also identify best practices in program management and portfolio management.

Some companies view this knowledge as intellectual property to be closely guarded in their vaults. Others share this knowledge in hope of discovering other best practices. Companies are now performing strategic planning for project management because of the benefits and its contribution to sustainable business value.

Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. One of the reasons for this difficulty, as will be seen later in the chapter, is that companies today are not in agreement about the definition of a best practice, nor do they understand that best practices lead to continuous improvement, which in turn leads to the capturing of more best practices. ...