Applying Governance on

Projects

Tom Mochal, PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, TSPM, ITBMC

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

W hat is Governance?
Describes how management hierarchy establishes
and enforces rules and policies
You have to have processes, policies, standards
If not you can't expect people to follow them.

You have to enforce the processes

Dont create mandatory processes if no enforcement
Unenforced processes should be guidelines

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

P roject Governance
Need project management and lifecycle processes
Determine what parts are required
Apply governance to required portions

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

P ortfolios and P rojects

Portfolio
Governance
Points

Project
Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Scale P roject Governance

Dont use one-size-fits-all approach - apply scalably
Small projects
Few requirements, little (but not no) governance

Large projects
Need more rigor and structure
More required elements

Medium projects
Less than large projects and more than small projects

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

P lan the P roject

Need planning process
Need document to define work
Project Charter, scope statement, SOW, etc.

Governance Point
The planning document
should be formally approved

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Build and M anage Schedule

Projects need a schedule

The schedule needs to be updated
The schedule is too tedious to validate
Governance Point
Milestones are used to validate overall schedule
Managers monitor milestones to validate overall progress

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Build and M anage Budget

Costs are estimated in planning

Budgets are allocated
Costs needs to be managed
Governance Point
Project reports expected spending and actual spending
Managers monitor spending through status reporting and
especially at phase gate reviews

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Gather R equirem ents

Gain agreement on characteristics of deliverables
Governance Point
Formal approval of requirements
Signifies requirements are
complete and correct

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

M anage Change Control

Establish and agree on standard change control
Generally means scope change, but some projects
manage all changes
Governance Point
Ensure all changes go through a formal process
All changes to scope, schedule, budget should be approved

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

M anage R isks and I ssues

Potential problems
Risks

Issues

Governance
Point

Current (large) problems

Validate risks and issues are identified

Validate they are being managed and closed

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

M anage P roject Status

Manage expectations
Report current status
Schedule / budget
Risks / issues / changes
Anything else of interest

Governance Point
All projects should report status
Validate governance against many of the other criteria
Makes it easier to monitor and provide governance

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

P hase Gate R eview s

Formal reviews between start
and end of project
End of each phase / milestones

Validate all prior work is

completed
Ensure project is ready to proceed
Governance Point
Gate reviews are critical governance points
Sponsor and key stakeholders focus on project status
Ensure project is in control before proceeding
Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Other Governance P oints

Lifecycle
processes and
documents

Project
Management
Plans

Safety plans

Government
reports /
filings

Disaster
recovery
Governance Points
Set up and enforce as needed
Dont go overboard
Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

P roject Closure
Formal approval that project objectives are fulfilled
Governance Point
Last governance point before team disbands

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Governance and Culture

Some organizations are good at it
See a problem, fix it and ensure everyone follows the
revised process

Some organizations are very weak

See problems and how to fix
Cant actually make the
required changes
Problems are known for years
but resolution is outside of
their cultural ability

Applying Governance on Projects - Webinar

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Sum m ary

Governance is process of making and enforcing rules

Projects need required processes based on size
Project governance ensures processes are followed
Typical governance points explained in this session
Some organizations are good at it, some not

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

M ore I nform ation

TenStep, Inc.
Tom Mochal, President
877-536-8434

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc

Questions?

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Copyright 2012 TenStep, Inc