Key actions to advance to Level 2 - Strategic Planning for Project Management

There are five key actions required before the organization can advance to Level 2. They are:

• Arrange for initial training and education in project management.
• Encourage the training (or hiring) of certified project management professionals (PMPs).
• Encourage employees to begin communicating in common project management language.
• Recognize available project management tools.
• Develop an understanding of the principles of project management: the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK).

The last item may prove the most difficult in non–project-driven organizations where project management is not regarded as a profession.

The successful completion of Level 1 usually occurs with a medium degree of difficulty. The time period to complete Level 1 could be measured in months or years, based upon such factors as:

• Type of company (project-driven versus non–project-driven).
• Size and nature of the projects.
• Amount of executive support.
• Visibility of executive support.
• Strength of the existing corporate culture.
• Previous experience, if any, with project management.
• Corporate profitability.
• Economic conditions (inflation, recession, etc.).
• The speed by which training can be accomplished.