What is MSP™

MSP™ stands for Managing Successful Programmes, and is a companion product to PRINCE2® from APMG.  While ITIL and PRINCE2® are focussed on reducing the risks in service management and projects respectively, MSP™ is a tool that can be used to reduce the risk of failure in programmes.

There are a lot of myths out there about programmes – they are just big projects, you can manage them the way you do things now, you don’t need a Programme Office and any good Project Managers can just do the programme as well.  In fact this couldn’t be further from the truth - they are different and need a different management approach and a higher level of governance involvement.

Traditionally, projects have delivered some capability into an organisation and then moved on.  While there is now a lot of focus on realising benefits and providing ongoing operational support, it is still based on individual projects.  MSP™ takes that focus and places it clearly on delivering the benefits of the programme, which may encompass a number of years of work from a number of separate projects both inside and outside an organisation.

One of the major differences between projects and programmes is the predictability of outcome.  Most projects, if they want to be successful, have a final product defined early on.  With a programme we may be delivering a strategy which is using unproven technology, involves volatile markets and long-term social effects and has a range of internal and external customers that are difficult to engage.  This is where MSP™ becomes of most value.

To put it succinctly, projects exist and thrive on certainty of outcome, whereas programmes exist and evolve in more ambiguous environments.

The other major difference between MSP™ and a project management method like PRINCE2® is the focus on benefits realisation and delivering strategic objectives.  The path from project output to a strategic objective being realised is littered with failure, and MSP™ helps to clarify and reduce this risk of failure.

Like PRINCE2®, MSP™ has clear decision points where you can stop the programme if it is no longer viable.  Many of the things we do in PRINCE2® managed projects carry over to MSP™, such as the business case, risk and issue management, etc.  MSP™ uses these and other products that are specific to programmes to support the process.

Do you need PRINCE2® to run MSP™?  Well, no, you can run it on PMBoK or Agile based projects, or any other method you choose.  However, the terms are very similar so anybody who has done PRINCE2® will be right at home.

So do you need MSP™?  Well, yes you do, but only if you have a big and risky programme to manage – don’t do it because it is the latest fad.  Like PRINCE2®, MSP™ is a sharp tool, so get some training and support from an experienced practitioner or you might hurt yourself.

Lucid IT has developed an MSP™ course that covers the Foundation, Practitioner and Advanced Practitioner accreditations.  This material includes everything an experienced project manager would need to transition to programme management.

We also offer non accredited overview courses in MSP™.

Call us to discuss your training or consulting requirements in this area.

PRINCE2® is a Registered Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce in the United Kingdom and other countries

MSP™ is a Trade Mark of the Office of Government Commerce