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.
History of Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®)
- Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) was originally developed in 1999 by OGC (formerly CCTA), The Office of Government Commerce (an independent office of the UK Treasury reporting to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury).
- The main trigger for development of this framework was to deal with the successful delivery of change from programmes.
- MSP also addressed the gaps between programme/ projects delivery and organisational strategy.
- Second edition of MSP was released in 2004 for UK Government and public use.
- Current release is the 5th edition of the framework, publicly available since late 2021
- Despite originating in the government sector, it is widely used in public and private sectors across the globe for successful programme management.
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:
7 MSP PRINCIPLES for Effective Programme Management
- Lead With Purpose
- Collaborate Across Boundaries
- Deal With Ambiguity
- Align With Priorities
- Deploy Diverse Skills
- Realize Measurable Benefits
- 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.
- Organization
- Design
- Justification
- Structure
- Knowledge
- Assurance
- 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.
- Identify the programme
- Design the outcomes
- Plan progressive delivery
- Deliver the capabilities
- Embed the outcomes
- Evaluate new information
- 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:
- Sponsoring Group
- Programme Board
- Senior Responsible Owner (SRO)
- Programme Manager
- Business Change Manager (BCM)
- Programme Office
Are you ready to become MSP certified professional? Click here to explore relevant certification training and achieve the next level in programme management profession.
Why Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)?
- MSP Addresses common programme challenges:
- Insufficient support from decision-makers in the investing organization(s)
- Unclear decision-making
- Unsustained focus on outcomes and benefits
- Poorly defined, communicated, or maintained narrative that supports the vision
- Lack of clarity about the gap between current and future states
- Unrealistic expectations about the capacity and ability to change
- Failure to engage and influence stakeholders
- Complex dependencies obscuring an integrated approach
- Inability to influence the prevailing culture
- 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.