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Project Governance Framework - Structure and Model
Using Method Grid we have developed a project governance framework as a key theme within our example Project and Program Management Methodology (PPM) grid.
What is project governance?
Project governance is a term used to describe the set of management practices and processes deployed to govern, or direct, a project. Project governance is a critical determinant of project success in that it addresses the topic of project role accountability and responsibility which, in turn, affects how project decisions are to be made.
What is a project governance framework?
The term “project governance framework” is used to describe a structured, repeatable approach for the design and implementation of project governance practices. A project governance framework will provide guidance and templates as to: the structuring of project roles, project role accountabilities and responsibilities and the apparatus of project information provision and decision-making.
For organizations engaged in repeatable project delivery, the existence of, and compliance with, a project governance framework will be a key determinant of their project delivery capability and ultimate project effectiveness.
Using Method Grid we have developed a project governance framework as a key theme within our overall Project and Program Management Methodology (PPM) grid.
This methodology grid serves as a complete end-to-end methodological toolbox for the delivery of a multitude of projects and programs. It has principle alignment with internationally recognised best-practice reference points including Prince2 and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP). The grid serves as a deep foundational starting point for organizations, and integrated delivery teams, to tailor-bespoke their own specific corporate frameworks.
Who might this project governance structure be useful for?
The project governance theme within the Project and Program Management (PPM) grid will be useful for all project and program management practitioners within your organization.
This guidance will also be relevant to all senior leaders in projectized organizations in so much as matters of project governance will invariably interact with overall organizational governance and executive decision making.
Further, this resource can serve as a powerful teaching and support aid for those new to the project and program management skill set.
How is this project governance model best used?
The project governance theme is designed as a sound starting point. It sets out the basic principles of project governance including such aspects as: a gated approvals process, project team organization, terms of reference for critical project roles and an overall project governance process checklist.
This starting point can then be further configured to meet your own organizational needs and then continuously improved and refined.
It should also be noted that many organizations continuously refine such a master version but then create snapshots of this grid (using the clone functionality in Method Grid) to create specific instances of a project governance framework.
These specific instances can then be easily configured to meet the scope of an individual project and harnessed as a connected-team management aid to track and assure progress across the project lifecycle.
Uniquely, this application of Method Grid then provides the project practitioner with all the relevant knowledge resources (guidance, templates etc) alongside powerful team-collaboration and project management tools (task assignment/scheduling, visual progress reporting, task-evidencing etc).
What does this framework consist of?
The project governance framework consists of multiple elements that bring the topic of project governance to life. These elements include detailed guidance on: (1) project approvals and gated reviews and (2) project roles and responsibilities. There are also elements for specific governance deliverables you would expect to see in a live project: a governance checklist and a governance structure description.
The overall PPM grid contains a wealth of further guidance documentation, management tool templates and “hints and tips” – over 50 rich resource elements – as captured within a complete end-to-end project and program management lifecycle, against the following themes:
Network Rail 
Arup 
Oxford Brookes University 
NHS 
SSE 
Future Shift 
