Welcome to the Programme and Project Support Office Specialist Interest Group

.... or PPSOSIG in short! The world's only interest group dedicated to programme and project support professionals.

Born in December 2001, the PPSO SIG continues to hold conferences and networking events that allow like-minded professionals to get together.

The PPSO SIG is a not for profit organisation which is owned by its members - It is not aligned with any methodology or industry. Membership is free and open to anyone employed or interested in Programme and Project Support in any industry

The Next PPSOSIG Event - 19th March 2010

In this 17th conference, the PPSOSIG continues to drive down the costs to PPSOSIG members and launches its first event at a member location. The Open University in Milton Keynes is our host for the day as we look at competence and competencies for the PMO professional.

> Find out more about the competence and competencies conference










The Last PPSOSIG Event - 16th & 17th September 2009

In 2008, P3O, the new Portfolio, Programme and Project Office framework was launched to thePMO community. In September 2009, the ppsosig launches its new conference "From Acorn to Oak: PMO Maturity in your Organisation, Your Team and You" focused on the next steps in growing your PMO.

The conference took place on the 16th & 17th September 2009 in the Coventry area, read on for more details

March 2009

Guidance on how to implement a PMO, dozens of checklists on the services your PMO could offer, pointers on how to make your PMO successful and an insight into the different models of PMOs in existence are just some of the latest guidance from the OGC in the form of “Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (P3O)©

So what will the new P3O guidance mean to your role, your PMO and your organisation?

In the Spring 2009 PPSOSIG (Programme and Project Support Office Specialist Interest Group) conference, held on the 18th March 2009, delegates were invited to learn more about the P3O guidance; the practicalities of using the new P3O guidance; the opportunity to understand more about Portfolio Management and its links to P3O; become familiar with the new P3O accreditation and understand more about how P3O will work for you, your PMO and your organisation.

> See the "P3O Examined- What Does it Mean for your PPSO?" presentations and outcomes

September 2008

Successful PPSOs all have one thing in common – they know what their assets are and they really know how to work them for the benefit of the individuals who work within them, the programme and projects they support and the organisation they’re a part of. So will PPSOs continue to sweat their assets to extract the best possible service offerings in these belt tightening, credit crunch, recession fearing times?

In this 14th PPSOSIG conference delegates were taken through the most valuable assets their PPSO has and learnt more about how they can get the most value out of what they already have without the need for extra spend and resources.

> For PPSOSIG conference outputs from this event

April 2008

"All Aboard the PPSO – Knowing the Value of your PPSO and Getting your Organisation on Board"

The Spring 2008 PPSO SIG Conference discussed how to identify the type of PPSO you work in, and what your organisation needs, concentrating on helping you to determine your own business case, and identifying and working with your stakeholders to ensure that the PPSO's value is properly understood and appreciated across the business

Getting everyone onboard the PPSO ship and repelling the unwanted boarders!

The one day conference in Aston, Birmingham also gave delegates plenty of opportunity to learn about other delegates experiences

> See the full output from the day

"Tools, Approaches & Techniques - Why Bother?"
was held on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th September 2007 - Warwickshire

A two day conference focused on the tools, techniques and approaches of the PPSO

Demand has been high for a conference dedicated to the hands on side of the PPSO role. In this conference delegates will be treated to techniques like facilitation skills, tools such as the fine art of MS Project and Excel and the approaches - project and programme accounting. With plenty of time to meet other like minded individuals and share your current successes (or frustrations!) in your organisation's PPSO, swap hints, tips and ideas, this is an ideal conference for all PPSO professionals

> Read about the outcome to the event

Previous Events:

The Last Event - "It's all about you - developing yourself aligned to your PPSO" - Wednesday 14th March 2007

Held on the Wednesday 14th March 2007 a day packed with information about the softer skills of the PPSO as well as some thought provoking presentations on other organisation's PPSO functions, qualifications, coaching and mentoring

> See the full page for more details and view the presentations

Setting up a centre of excellence for PPM -
Friday 24th November 2006 - Aston University, Birmingham

David Marsh - author of the PPSO Handbook and David Wilkin, of MMP will be introducing concepts from their forthcoming course and recently published book - Designing Your PPM COE - A Strategic Guide.

Together with John Elliott of the OGC and Graham Hawkins of Serco Solutions - this event is a re-run of a successful events held in London on the 29th September 2006 and is re-staged exclusively for PPSOSIG members. See more about the event

The Portfolios, Programmes and Projects Event was held on the 20th - 21st September 2006

At this event entitled "Close The Gap " we looked at Portfolios, Programmes and Projects and the role of the PPSO in supporting the interfaces between them. Agenda items included - what is porfolio management?, where does the PPSO figure in portfolio management, how does the PPSO report?

We also included sessions that allowed delegates to formally network - our successful take on speed-dating but without the awkward silences ;-) There was also a session which enabled delegates to raise their issues and questions - areas that are high on their agendas at work through the "Question Time" session.

We also took a look at our next conference planned for March 2007 which will be dedicated to the role of the PPSOer - the softer skills needed to be a successful professional in the area of Programme and Project Office.

< View the presentations and outcomes from this session>

The March 2006 Event took place on Wednesday 1st March 2006 at the Aston University Lakeside Conferences.

September 2005 - To Boldly Go....

The Programme and Project Support Office Specialist Interest Group - PPSOSIG

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