What is PM²-Programme Management?

Programme Management Methodology - Overview

The PM²-PgM Management provides a framework for effectively managing and coordinating interrelated projects and other work to achieve strategic goals. It offers practical guidelines, structured processes, and best practices tailored to the needs of organisations and teams.  

Discover how PM²-PgM can help you enhance programme performance, improve decision-making, and realise benefits through its detailed governance model, lifecycle structure, key activities, and supporting artefact templates. Download the full guide and complementary resources to access the complete methodology.

PM²-PgM Overview

The purpose of PM²-PgM is to enable organisations to deliver solutions and benefits to their stakeholders by effectively managing strategic initiatives undertaken as programmes. PM²-PgM introduces a structured approach to programme management. The "House of PM²-PgM" illustrates the key pillars of programme management, which are fundamental to the successful implementation of programmes.

The PM²-PgM Methodology provides:

a programme governance structure;
a programme lifecycle;
guidelines for programme management activities;
programme artefact templates;
guidelines for using the artefacts;
a set of effective mindsets.

PM²-PgM Governance

Strong governance is a cornerstone of programme success. Programme governance provides the framework within which programme management decisions are made.

The PM²-PgM Governance Model defines roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority, ensuring accountability and alignment across all levels.   

The Responsibilities Assignment Matrix (RAM) clarifies the responsibilities of each role, their domain of management concern, and level of authority—essential elements of management effectiveness.

PM²-PgM Lifecycle

All programmes have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Given the potentially long duration of programmes, their total timespan is divided into smaller, more manageable periods called Phases. These Phases are defined based on the common characteristics of the management activities performed during each period. In essence, the PM²-PgM Phases group related programme management activities, helping programme teams focus on phase-specific tasks and objectives.  

The PM²-PgM Lifecycle provides a straightforward yet effective structure, organising programme management activities into four sequential, non-overlapping Phases: Initiating, Planning, Executing, and Closing. Additionally, it includes an overarching process, Monitor & Control, which spans all Phases.  

It is important to note that while the names of the PM²-PgM Phases mirror those of the PM² Project Management Lifecycle, the programme management lifecycle is distinct and tailored to the unique demands of managing programmes.

Phase Gates

During each of the PM²-PgM Phases, specific programme management objectives need to be achieved. The programme can then be allowed to move forward to the next Phase, based on the degree to which they have been achieved. At the end of each phase, the programme passes through a review and approval gate.

PM²-PgM Activities

The PM²-PgM Methodology defines a number of management activities which are to be executed throughout the programme lifecycle. Through the execution of these activities, Programme Managers (PgMs) can apply commonly accepted programme management best practices that help them achieve their programme management objectives.

PM²-PgM presents a wide range of such activities along with guidelines on their application. These guidelines describe the activities (what) and their purpose (why), they present the distribution of the responsibilities for their execution (who), indicate the timing of their execution and their frequency for recurring activities (when), and provide guidelines for their execution (how).

PM²-PgM Artefacts

Documentation in programmes is an essential enabler for effective initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and finally closing a programme.

The PM²-PgM Methodology proposes the creation of a set of Artefacts that facilitate the definition, management and communication of programmes. PM²-PgM offers a complete set of programme templates and detailed guidelines on how to use them.

PM²-PgM Mindsets

The PM²-PgM methodology encourages teams to adopt collaborative, goal-oriented mindsets. These guiding principles align programme practitioners around a shared set of beliefs and values, underpinning every aspect of the methodology.  

Mindsets act as the glue binding the four PM²-PgM pillars—governance, lifecycle, activities, and artefacts. They define the attitudes and behaviours that help teams focus on achieving programme objectives. By adopting these mindsets, teams are better equipped to navigate programme complexities, making the methodology both effective and complete.  

To remain aligned with the PM²-PgM Mindsets, programme managers and teams should also reflect on the essential Infrequently Asked Questions (IAQs).

PM² Programme Management