#1270 PGMG - proposed wording changes for clarity and readability change request accepted

From Jim Owens. Details attached below.

Programme management: Level 7

Currently	Suggested Change
The maintenance of a strategic view	Maintains a strategic view[1]
a vision of the outcome of the programme	a vision of the outcomes of the programme[2]
(The vision, and the means of achieving it, may change as the programme progresses).	The vision, and the means of achieving it, may change as the programme progresses.[3]
Determination, monitoring, and review of programme scope, costs, and schedule,	Determination, monitoring, and review of programme scope, costs, and schedule, expected benefits,[4]
to full integration with “business as usual”	to full integration with operations (or “business as usual”)[5]
ensuring that there are appropriate and effective governance arrangements	ensuring that there is alignment with and adherence to appropriate and effective governance arrangements[6]
by comprehensive reporting and communication	by comprehensive reporting and communication strategies[7]

Programme management: Level 6

Currently	Suggested Change
Plans, directs, and co-ordinates	Plans, directs and co-ordinates
to manage and implement	to implement and manage[8]
contract /proposal initiation[9]	Contract or proposal acceptance
including the transition into “business-as-usual”	including the transition into operations (or “business-as-usual”)
reports on activities related to the programme	reports on programme-related activities [10]
ensuring that there are appropriate and effective governance arrangements, supported by comprehensive reporting and communication.	ensuring that there are appropriate and effective governance arrangements, and comprehensive reporting and communication polices are in place and followed
realise business benefits	realise agreed business benefits within agreed timescales[11]
and that programme management is informed by an awareness of current technical developments.	This is a tricky one! “Programme Management” is a skill, so how can a “skill” be “informed by an awareness”? If “informedness” could be added to a skill that that skill would be improved, so now you would have a level 6.0, 6.1, etc. So, probably the easiest way to fix this would be to change the sentence to two sentences: Maintains an awareness of current technical developments that may provide opportunities to the programmes. Ensures that programmes are managed to realise agreed business benefits, within agreed timescales.

[1] Proper grammar

[2] There would be many outcomes

[3] Brackets around an entire sentence are superfluous

[4] As required by PRINCE2 and The PMBOK Guide

[5] “Operations” is the proper term, whereas “Business as usual” is the vernacular, and should appear second.

[6] Need to use them as well has just have them

[7] This is a level 7 position. Need to make it clear that the person/group is driving and not just using or receiving

[8] Cart before the horse again

[9] This would be confusing for the PRINCE2 Practitioner, because project Initiation is a process carried out long before contracts are signed

[10] Better grammar (and active sentence)

[11] Expected benefits are specified in detail at the beginning of a project, along with the strategy for confirming they have been achieved, and when the benefits are expected to be achieved. These are specific and measurable, but the phrase implies that any benefits will do. It’s like the question “How can you make sure you always hit the target?” Answer: “Fire an arrow anywhere, and whatever it hits, you call ‘the target’”

Proposed change applies to Programme management

Current status of this request: accepted

What we decided

Included in overall readability review for SFIA 8