All About Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) Framework

Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®), 5th edition is an established best practice programme management framework, designed to align programmes and projects to organizational strategy and enable enterprise agility. MSP focuses on the delivery of outcomes of benefit, while mitigating risk and actively engaging stakeholders.

MSP consists of a set of principles, themes, and processes that provide a clear roadmap for the programme lifecycle, including larger, more strategic, complex, or multiple projects. MSP is specifically designed to address the most common challenges that organizations encounter when leading investments in change. It is designed to align programmes and projects to organizational strategy and to provide governance. It focuses on the outcomes of benefits, whilst mitigating risks and actively engaging stakeholders.

Programme and Programme Management

• MSP defines a programme as:
  • A temporary structure designed to lead multiple interrelated projects and other work in order to progressively achieve outcomes of benefit for one or more organizations.
• MSP identifies programme management as:
  • The management of the temporary structure designed to lead multiple interrelated projects and other work in order to progressively achieve outcomes of benefit for one or more organizations.

MSP Definition of a Programme

• A temporary structure (designed to lead)
  • Although is closely linked to business as usual (BAU) operations and may span many years
• Multiple, interrelated projects and other work (in order to)
  • Not necessarily just projects, nor just one mode of delivery
• Progressively achieve outcomes of benefit (for)
  • Incremental cycles with landing points where it would be ‘safe’ for the organization to stop. Enterprise agility. Not an agile method.
• One or more organizations
  • MSP recognises the investing organization(s) noting that investments are often made by multiple stakeholders but the key point is that programmes are typically not bounded by one organization/part of an organization and require collaboration across boundaries.

The Managing Successful Programmes Handbook

• The MSP® Study Guide
  • Defines full content of MSP
  • Is definitive source for all MSP exams
  • Supports training and exams
  • Can be used only in Practitioner exam (open book exam)
• Structure of the handbook:
  • 18 Chapters
  • 1 Appendix

7 MSP PRINCIPLES for Effective Programme Management

1. Lead With Purpose
2. Collaborate Across Boundaries
3. Deal With Ambiguity
4. Align With Priorities
5. Deploy Diverse Skills
6. Realize Measurable Benefits
7. Bring Pace and Value

The MSP Themes

An essential aspect of governance required to ensure that the programme is aligned with the principles.

Themes are collectively applied during the processes throughout the programme lifecycle.

1. Organization
2. Design
3. Justification
4. Structure
5. Knowledge
6. Assurance
7. Decisions

The MSP Processes

A structured set of activities that define the sequence of actions and their inputs and outputs to achieve a specific objective.

1. Identify the programme
2. Design the outcomes
3. Plan progressive delivery
4. Deliver the capabilities
5. Embed the outcomes
6. Evaluate new information
7. Close the programme

The MSP Roles

The purpose of the programme’s organization structure is to define the governance boards and supporting offices that are needed to control the definition and delivery of outcomes of benefit within the constraints of the investing organization(s).

The key roles defined by MSP are:

1. Sponsoring Group
2. Programme Board
3. Senior Responsible Owner (SRO)
4. Programme Manager
5. Business Change Manager (BCM)
6. Programme Office

Why Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)?

1. MSP Addresses common programme challenges:
   1. Insufficient support from decision-makers in the investing organization(s)
   2. Unclear decision-making
   3. Unsustained focus on outcomes and benefits
   4. Poorly defined, communicated, or maintained narrative that supports the vision
   5. Lack of clarity about the gap between current and future states
   6. Unrealistic expectations about the capacity and ability to change
   7. Failure to engage and influence stakeholders
   8. Complex dependencies obscuring an integrated approach
   9. Inability to influence the prevailing culture
   10. Difficulties in keeping effort focused at the right level of detail.

Benefits of Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)

• For organisations, MSP:
  • Provides step-by-step guidance for managing complexity and resources.
  • Aligns projects and programmes to organizational strategy.
  • Helps deliver strategic programmes and multiple projects to realize benefits.
• For individuals, MSP:
  • Certification validates your programme management knowledge and professional expertise
  • Provides internationally recognized certification
  • helps with career progression for aspiring senior project, programme, and business change managers

MSP Training and Certification

Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) certification trainings are provided by PeopleCert's Accredited Training Organizations (ATOs) across the globe. Tecknologia is also a PeopleCert Accredited Training Organization (ATO) offering Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) certification trainings across the globe and in various formats.

Click on the links for certification levels to explore the pre-requisites, exams and other details.

In comparison: PMI-PgM® (Programme Management Professional)

• PMI-PgM is more aligned with PMBoK and PMP
• There are strict prerequisites for candidates, including:
• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent) OR 4 years degree.
• 84 (for above) or 48 (for below) months of program management experience within the last 15 years.
• 48 months of project management experience OR PMP.
• Application will go through audit process.
• Panel approval before candidate is allowed to sit the exam.