Improving project portfolio management (PPM) for improvement projects

Abstract

Project Portfolio Management (PPM) focus on the integration and alignment of projects with the business operation in order to achieve most value and cost-efficiency for the investment in projects. PPM is often a challenge and especially so for improvement projects where PPM is considerably underdeveloped. In this paper, we present an approach that combines the ImprovAbility model and assessment with a version of a CMMI assessment developed by the Danish company Whitebox. This approach was developed in the world-leading Wind Turbine Company Vestas. The paper presents and discusses this new way of evaluating a portfolio of improvement projects and combine this evaluation with the effect they have on the CMMI maturity level. Further, the paper demonstrates how the combination of a strong senior management requirement for improved maturity and the focus on getting the most value out of PPM made it possible for Vestas to become “better at getting better”.