Understanding Maturity Models in Project Management

Oct 1, 2024

Lecture Notes: Maturity Models for Project Management

Introduction

  • Presenter: Harold Kersner, International Institute for Learning (IIL)
  • Topic: Maturity models in project management
  • Background: Microsoft & IIL broadcast series on best practices in project management
  • Growing interest from companies in project management maturity models

Maturity Models

  • Purpose: Evaluate project management maturity in companies
  • Market Models: Vary in complexity, cost, ease of use, assessment time, and participant requirements

Types of Maturity Models

Non-Structured Maturity Model

  • Life Cycle Phases:
    1. Embryonic Stage: Recognize need and benefits of project management; initiated at lower organization levels
    2. Executive Management Acceptance: Visible support, understanding, sponsorship, and willingness to change by executives
    3. Line Management Acceptance: Importance of executive support for line management buy-in
    4. Growth Phase: Develop project management methodology before selecting software; commitment to planning
    5. Maturity Phase: Implement cost control, integrate cost and schedule controls, develop educational programs

Structured Maturity Model (IIL's Model)

  • Levels:
    1. Level 1: Common Language
      • Characteristics: Lip service to PM, lack of executive support, decision-making in self-interest
      • Roadblocks: Resistance to change, cultural shifts needed
      • Steps: Training, education, understanding PMBOK guide
    2. Level 2: Common Processes (not detailed in this lecture)
    3. Level 3: Methodologies (not detailed in this lecture)
    4. Level 4: Benchmarking
    5. Level 5: Continuous Improvement
      • Focus on continuous improvement cycles

Factors in Selecting Maturity Models

  • Complexity
  • Ease of use
  • Cost (purchase and assessment)
  • Time requirement
  • PMO's involvement

Role of PMO

  • PMO can accelerate maturity in project management
  • Consider quality and technical complexity of PMO assessment instruments

Additional Resources

  • Books by Harold Kersner and Frank Salatas
  • Products and services: white papers, webinars, podcasts available at IIL.com

Conclusion

  • Encouragement to explore additional resources and products
  • Contact information for further inquiry: IIL.com

These notes summarize the key points from Harold Kersner's presentation on maturity models for project management, focusing on both structured and non-structured approaches, and considerations for selecting models.