Discover the practical application of the PM² Methodology and Artefacts

The PM² Study Case, published by the Methodologies Office, showcases how the adoption of the PM² Project Management Methodology can address persistent challenges within a Department. The Study Case demonstrates that structured methodologies are instrumental in reducing issues such as miscommunication, stakeholder disengagement and inefficient project handling—common problems that often lead to delays, cost overruns and sub‑standard deliverables. Moreover, improved project monitoring and reporting enable more informed decision‑making on investments and better management of contractors. 

The PM² Methodology, developed by the European Commission, is an open‑source framework that provides guidelines and templates to facilitate the management and documentation of projects. The Study Case emphasises that a department‑wide adoption of PM² best practices can significantly elevate project‑management maturity. Such an approach addresses existing problems and strengthens alignment between project work and organisational strategic objectives, enhancing visibility into project progress and overall strategic implementation. 

What the Study Case contains 

This publication is a study case—its primary aim is to help readers understand the application of the PM² methodology and to study PM² itself. It is not a case study, which would focus on analysing the performance of a specific completed project.  

The Study Case provides a set of pre‑filled PM² artefacts to illustrate how to tailor and use the available PM² resources while exploring the benefits of implementing PM² best practices. 

The artefacts include a Project Initiation Request, Business Case and Project Charter, which are essential for initiating any project. They are complemented by a Project Handbook, Project Work Plan, Resource Plan and Business Implementation Plan, together with Risk, Issue, Change and Decision Logs, among other key documents needed during the planning and monitoring phases. 

For those interested in exploring the PM² Project Management Methodology, the PM² Study Case on improving project‑management practices is now available on the PM² Resource page.  All PM² Artefact Templates are accessible on the portal and are free to use, providing invaluable tools for enhancing project‑management efficiency and effectiveness. 

Disclaimer and acknowledgements 

First released in 2014, this study case has been expanded over the years with contributions from many dedicated PM² practitioners. We gratefully acknowledge their input. The document cannot be considered 100 per cent complete, and omissions, errors or stylistic inconsistencies may remain. Nonetheless, the PM² community has long requested its open publication because of its proven value in explaining the methodology and the application of PM² artefacts.