MSP Concepts

Programmes are different from projects in that it is their outcomes that matter, not their outputs.

• Outputs and Capabilities – A capability is what is specified in the programme’s Blueprint. It is normally delivered by the outputs from one or more projects.
• Outcome – the result of change, normally affecting real-world behaviours or circumstances.
• Benefit – measurable quantification of improvements resulting from change.  Not always measurable in financial terms, but should be capable of at least “observable” measures.

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An MSP programme will have a Vision Statement and a Blueprint describing the future changed business operations or other outcome.

• Vision Statement – outward-facing description of the new capabilities resulting from programme delivery.
• Blueprint – model of the future business, organization, its working practices, structures and processes, the information it requires and the technology that will be needed to deliver the capability described in the Vision Statement.

An MSP programme is defined by the following information:

• Vision Statement – Is used to communicate the end goal of the programme.
• Blueprint – Used to maintain the programmes focus on delivering the required transformation and business change
• Business Case – describes what the value is to the sponsoring organization from the outcomes of the programme.   The programme-level Business Case provides a summation of the project level business cases to present the overall balance of benefits and costs against strategic objectives.   The Business Case is developed in iterations, and in particular alignment with the development of the Blueprint.
• Organization – Description of the management roles, responsibilities and reporting lines in the programme.
• Project Portfolio – the list of all the projects and activities that together will deliver the required capability described in the Blueprint.
• Benefit Profiles – a complete description of each benefit expected from the programme.
• Stakeholder Map – a matrix showing all stakeholders and their particular interests in the programme.

The above set of information forms the Programme Definition

The MSP programme governance arrangements are defined by strategies covering:

• Quality and assurance management – Used to define and establish the activities for managing quality across the programme.
• Stakeholder engagement – Used to define the framework that will enable effective stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Issue management – Used to describe the mechanisms and procedures for resolving issues.
• Risk management – Defines the programme approach to establishing its framework for risk management.
• Benefits management – Used to establish the approach to realising benefits and the framework within which benefits realisation will be achieved.
• Resource management – Used to identify how the programme will acquire and manage the resources required to achieve the business change.
• Monitoring and control – Defines how the programme will apply internal controls to itself.
• Information management – Describes how the programme will establish measures, systems and techniques that will be used to maintain and control programme information.

The MSP approach for planning a programme is covered by the following information:

• Programme Plan – Used to control and track progress and delivery of the programme and resulting outcomes.
• Benefits Realisation Plan – Used to track realisation of benefits across the programme and set review controls.
• Communication Plan – Sets out the timetable and arrangements for implementing and managing the stakeholder engagement strategy.
• Information management Plan – Sets out the timetable and arrangements for implementing and managing the information strategy.
• Quality and assurance Plan – Sets out the timetable and arrangements for carrying out the quality management strategy.
• Resource management Plan – Arrangements for implementing the resource management strategy.
• The Programme Plan includes :
  -The Project Portfolio
  -Summary of risks and assumptions against successful delivery of the plan
  -Programme schedule showing the relative sequencing of projects.

The programme schedule and Benefits Realisation Plan help to identify points during the programme at which early benefits reviews can be carried out.  The schedule should be divided into “tranches” (groups of projects) reflecting these step changes in capability and benefit realisation.

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Copyright Statements

Related posts:

1. What is MSP?
2. Why use MSP?
3. MSP Principles
4. MSP Governance Themes
5. Closing a Programme

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Related posts:

1. What is MSP?
2. Why use MSP?
3. MSP Principles
4. MSP Governance Themes
5. Closing a Programme

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Managing Successful Programmes, MSP Approach to Planning, MSP Concepts, MSP Courses, MSP Foundation, MSP Foundation Training, MSP Practitioner, MSP Practitioner Training, MSP Programme, MSP Resources, MSP Training, msp training sussex, programme definition, programme governance, sussex, vision statement, What is MSP

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