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Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Dictionary of Terms

by | reviewed 2023-08-19
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®) is a set of principles for managing a program of work provided by the global best practice company Axelos (formally provided by the OGC). MSP is a framework of principles and processes designed to deliver "successful outcomes from organisational change". It is designed to be flexible rather than prescriptive and can be adapted for industry, program type etc. It is used by private and public sector companies to manage and deliver on large change programs. View the Agile Dictionary, ITIL Dictionary. Project Office Dictionary (P30). Full PRINCE2 glossary of terms. See also Risk Management Dictionary and Project Management Dictionary.

A - Aggregated risk to B - Business Operational Stability

Aggregated risk

The overall level of risk to the programme when all the risks are viewed as a totality rather than individually. This could include the outputs of particular scenarios or risk combinations.
definition and meaning of aggregated risk

As-is state

Current operating structure and performance of the parts of the business that will be impacted by a programme.

To-be state

The future planned state of an organization as described by the Blueprint.

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.

Baseline

A reference level against which an entity is monitored and controlled.

Benefit

The measurable improvement resulting from an outcome perceived as an advantage by one or more stakeholders.

Benefit models

A collective term covering the information produced by various tools, used to analyze and document information about the relationship between benefits and other programme items. It covers, but is not limited to, Outcome Relationship Models and Benefits Maps.

Benefit Profile

The complete description of a benefit or dis- benefit.

Benefits distribution matrix

An illustration of the distribution of benefits against dis-benefits across an organization, i.e. the winners and losers in a change.

Benefits management

The identification, definition, tracking, realisation and optimisation of benefits within and beyond a programme.

Benefits Management Strategy

How the programme will handle benefits management.

Benefits Realisation Manager

An optional role within an organization that is responsible for maintaining a permanent center of expertise in benefit realisation within the organization, providing objective challenge of benefits, dependencies, measures, targets and a programme's approach to benefit realisation.

Benefits Realisation Plan

A complete view of all the Benefit Profiles in the form of a schedule.

Best practice

A defined and proven method of managing events effectively.

Blueprint

A model of a business or organization, its working practices and processes, the information it requires and the technology that will be needed to deliver the capability described in the Vision Statement.

Border

The time-bound limitations of a tranche, i.e. when end-of-tranche reviews are held and the programme receives endorsement to move into the next tranche.

Boundary

The scope of what a programme will cover, the extent of its influence and authority.

Business-as-usual

The way a business normally achieves its objectives.

Business Case

The justification for an organisational activity (strategic, programme, project, operational) which typically contains costs, benefits, risks and timescales and against which continuing viability is tested.

Download a Business Case - Word or PDF format

Download a PRINCE2 Business Case - Mind map, Word or PDF format

Business Case management

The manner in which a programme's rationale, objectives, benefits and risks are balanced against the financial investment, and this balance maintained, adjusted and assessed during the programme.

Business Change Manager

The role responsible for benefits management, from identification through to realisation and ensuring the implementation and embedding of the new capabilities delivered by the projects. Typically allocated to more than one individual and also known as Change agent. See also Change Agent.

Business Operational Stability

Maintains the ongoing functional performance of an organization at acceptable levels during change.

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