Portfolio, Programme and Project offices (P3O) Official Exam

Overview 

"The purpose of Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O®) is to provide globally applicable guidance,including processes and techniques , along with hints and tips, that will enable individuals and organizations to successfully establish , develop and maintain (or in some case energize) appropriate support structure that will facilitate.

• Informing senior management's decision making on prioritization , dependencies, risk management , and deployment of resources across the organization to successfully deliver their business objectives. (Portfolio Management)
• Delivery of programmes and projects within time ,cost, quality and other organizational constraints.
• Identification and realization of outcomes and benefits via programmes and projects.

The P3O® guidance seeks to answer the following questions

• What is P3O ?
• Why have a P3O ?
• How do we design a P3O ?
• What functions and services and should be offered ?
• How do we implement or re-energize a P3O?
• How do we operate a P3O ?

The P3O® framework includes the following contents

Why have a P3O?

• How does P3O add value to the organization?
• Developing the Business Case for the P3O
• Getting the investments done for P3O

What is a P3O Model?

• Overview of multiple models of P3O
• Functions and Services offered by the P3O
• Roles and responsibilities within P3O
• Benefits Realisation Management
• Sizing and Tailoring of P3O
• Maturity and evolution of the P3O

How to implement a P3O?

• P3O lifecycle
• Plan Stages or tranches of delivery
• Implementation of new or enhanced capability
• Periodic reviews and lessons learned
• How to re-energize the P3O?
• Integration with business planning cycles

How to operate a P3O - tools and techniques

• Benefits of using tools and techniques for the P3O
• Critical success factors for implementing the P3O model
• Various tools and techniques applicable for the P3O
• Roles and responsibilities for setting up and operating the P3O

Certification levels in P3O 

Foundation Level

The purpose of the Foundation certification is to confirm that you have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the P3O guidance to interact effectively with, or act as an informed member of, an office within a P3O model. The Foundation certification is a pre-requisite for the Practitioner certification.

Target Audience

Members of offices within a P3O model or anyone who needs to understand the terminology and concepts underpinning P3O and those wishing to pursue higher level certifications.

Examination Format

For the 2013 edition

• Multiple choice examination questions
  
• 75 questions - 70 live questions and five trial
  
• 60 minutes' duration
  
• 35 marks required to pass (out of 70 available) - 50%
• Closed book.

Practitioner Level

The purpose of the Practitioner certification is to confirm whether you have achieved sufficient knowledge and understanding of the P3O guidance to design, implement, manage or work within any component office of a P3O model. A successful candidate will have an overall understanding of the elements, roles, functions and tools and techniques deployed in a generalized P3O model.

Target Audience

The qualification is aimed at those wanting to take an active role in any of the offices described in the P3O model. While it is particularly suited to candidates fulfilling the management, generic or functional roles described in Appendix A of the P3O guide, it will also be relevant others who see the P3O model as a framework for a career path.

Examination Format

• Objective testing
• Four questions of 20 marks each - 80 marks in total
• 150 minutes' duration
• 40 marks required to pass (out of 80 available) - 50%
• Open book - (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices: P3O guide only).