PM raises interest in EU institutions

European Commission has developed a PM² project management methodology and it raises international interest.

PM² (picture 1) is a lean and easy to implement methodology suitable for any type of project. It is based on operational experience from projects run within the European Institutions, but also incorporates elements from a wide range of globally accepted project management best practices, standards and methodologies such as PMBOK^® Guide, PRINCE2^® and IPMA-ICB.

Picture 1. PM² methodology.

Methodology is developed by the PM² Alliance, which is an international, member-driven and volunteer-led not-for-profit organisation. Founded by PM² practitioners, the Alliance brings together individuals from institutions, companies and the academia. Furthermore through the OpenPM² Initiative the EU Commission provided open access to PM² to everyone beyond the EU institutions such as member states, contractors and finally all EU citizens.

A brief introduction and following simple steps are all that is required to apply the PM2 methodology in your own projects:

1. Define the project governance and create a business case
2. Identify stakeholders and create the project charter
3. Set up the project logs (risks, issues, decisions and changes).
4. Start project planning with a kick-off meeting
5. Tailor the project management approach
6. Create the project work plan

Since its release in November 2016 the PM² Methodology Guide – Open Edition, has made it to the top 10 most downloaded publications of the EU Bookshop and is often the no.1, leaving behind the all time classic publication on “How the European Union Works”.

The PM² Alliance is actively working in the tailoring PM² for international cooperation and development, to fit the specific needs and constraints of these projects while complying with the strict rules applied to these grant projects.

Professional project management is on its way to European institutions and also to wider network of project actors.