Assurance SIG Knowledgebase
We are very aware that those who are new to the subject of PPPM assurance do not have a simple and straightforward way of learning more about it. Furthermore, it is not easy for one type of assurance provider to find out about another nor how they themselves fit into the bigger picture.
To address this, we are setting up the Assurance Knowledgebase (the aforementioned one-stop-shop), which will be a resource accessible through the APM website that will point the user, through a combination of built-in pages and links to pages elsewhere (on the APM and other organisations websites), to a broad range of assurance-related information, including guides, standards, books, etc.
A prototype has been developed and we are busy populating the reference material prior to adding it to the Assurance SIG pages of the APM website
If you have any suggestions and/or queries or want to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact us directly or add a comment below.
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Hello Naveed, good discussion post. In respect of terminology I wanted to offer up the following;Assurance; all the systematic actions necessary to provide confidence that the target (system, process, organization, programme, project, outcome, benefit, capability, product output, deliverable) is appropriate. Appropriateness might be defined subjectively or objectively in different circumstances. The implication is that assurance will have a level of independence from that which is being assured.Governance (corporate); the ongoing activity of maintaining a sound system of internal control by which the directors and officers of an organization ensure that effective management systems, including financial monitoring and control systems, have been put in place to protect assets, earning capacity and the reputation of the organization.Governance (project); those areas of corporate governance that are specifically related to project activities. Effective governance of project management ensures that an organization's project portfolio is aligned to the organization's objectives, is delivered efficiently and is sustainable.Quality assurance; an independent check that products will be fit for purpose or meet requirements.(Source - Prince2)CommentIn respect of management oversignt I think there is benefit when reviewing the interfaces between projects before taking the projects together in a programme of works and the transition into operations i.e. the project was delivered successfully but operations failed to meet success criteria for the first six months of operation.Thanks again for the opportunity to contribute. Richard
Hi NaveedIn my environment we have a number of disconnected(?) assurance processes focusing on elements of PPM, and documentation, for example do you have a (updated) risk log, how much is your latest cost estimate, are your benefits achievable. After-all, we have line-management processes that make sure people deliver high quality products and services. And, of course we are experts in the field of what the project is delivering so we KNOW what good looks like.So in the simplest possible terms why do we need assurance?And, I am reminded of an extract of a poem:I keep six honest serving-men:(They taught me all I know)Their names are What and Where and WhenAnd How and Why and Who. The Elephants Child - Rudyard Kipling