Our Vision:
• Create a minimum standard methodology that can be used on any IT project at any state agency.
• Ensure consistency in meaning of project management terminology statewide.
• Develop project management skills in our state employees and to ensure the skills are transferable to other IT projects and state agencies.
• Set consistent expectations of project management standards among our business, consultant, and IT project partners.
• Provide a set of tools for the Project Management Life Cycle that is scalable and from which data can be extracted for project portfolio management.
• Allow the use of additional tools selected by state agencies or the expansion of the CA-PMM tools for the largest IT projects.
Purpose:
Given the increasing complexity of IT projects, many of which integrate multiple technologies and business processes, the state has a well defined need for a standardized enterprise project management capability to maximize the quality and productivity of IT efforts while minimizing risks. Accordingly, this Information Technology Policy Letter (ITPL) announces the release of the California Project Management Methodology (CA-PMM) as the state’s methodology for managing IT projects. This ITPL also discusses the CA-PMM Reference Manual and Toolkit, along with associated policies for using the CA-PMM.
The publication of the CA-PMM Toolkit and Reference Manual for use by agencies and departments represents a significant step toward strengthening IT project management in the state, and as such will serve as the state’s IT project management standard.
Background:
As described in Government Code Sections 11545 and 11546, the Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OCIO) has responsibility and authority to guide the application of IT in California State government. This includes improving efficiencies in developing and implementing IT and establishing policies for strengthening project management.
In the May 15, 2008, Supplemental Report of the 2007 Budget Act Item 0502-001-9730 1 (Supplemental Report), the OCIO described a series of actions it would take to strengthen the state’s project management capabilities. This included establishing the CA-PMM as the project management standard, along with establishing a standard project governance structure and recommended qualifications for IT Project Managers.
Policy:
The CA-PMM is the state’s standard methodology for IT project management. The CA-PMM introduces new policies related to improved project management and modify some existing policies. All departments and associated state and contractor staff must use the new CA-PMM. This includes IT projects approved by the OCIO and IT projects approved by Agencies and departments under their delegated approval authority pursuant to State Administrative Manual (SAM) Section 4819.34.
The Reference Manual describes the CA-PMM, while the Toolkit (in Microsoft Excel format) is the mechanism for implementing the CA-PMM. We note that some skill in Excel is needed to effectively use the Toolkit. Included within the CA-PMM “Initiating” portion of the Reference Manual and Toolkit are modifications to the project governance structure as discussed in the Supplemental Report.
For additional CA-PMM Policy details, please see the Information Technology Policy Letter (09-01) here: link to be added here.
Training Requirements
California Project Management Methodology (CA-PMM) and California Qualified Program
Given the increasing complexity of IT projects, many of which integrate multiple technologies and business processes, the state has a well defined need for a standardized enterprise project management capability to maximize the quality and productivity of IT efforts while minimizing risks. Accordingly, the Office of the State Chief Information Officer (OCIO) developed the CA-PMM as the state’s methodology for managing IT projects.
The CA-PMM Reference Manual and Toolkit, along with associated policies for using the CA-PMM, are included in the State Information Management Manual (SIMM) Section 17.
The publication of the CA-PMM Toolkit and Reference Manual for use by state agencies and departments represents a significant step toward strengthening IT project management in the state, and as such will serve as the state’s IT project management standard.
There are two courses specific to the CA-PMM and the Toolkit offered at the Training Center:
CA-PMM Boot Camp for Project Managers: This five-day workshop is for new project managers with little or no previous project management training. This class will provide project managers with the skills, tools, and techniques necessary to manage projects from Project Concept to Project Closing. During the workshop participants will be able to practice the learned concepts using the CA-PMM Toolkit.
CA-PMM Express Training for Project Managers: This two-day workshop provides instruction to experienced project managers in the use of all of the CA-PMM tools. To support the use of the CA-PMM, two Toolkits of standard templates have been created. The standardized templates provide consistent sets of data for all IT projects. The Toolkits consist of MS EXCEL workbooks with multiple worksheets.
California Qualified Program (CalQ)
In addition to the above training, when the CA-PMM was created, the OCIO included the California Qualified training program to address the minimum training requirements for IT Project Managers in the state. CalQ has three categories of training: Primary, Secondary, and Allied. SIMM Section 17E provides the details of the training requirements.
State employees seeking to meet CalQ requirements may elect to attend the training courses at the Training Center; however, training offered by other vendors, colleges, or on-the-job training may also qualify as meeting CalQ requirements. A review of the course descriptions and approval by your agency CIO as meeting the requirements is all that is necessary to verify that one has met the CalQ requirements.
Note: CalQ is not a certificate program in and of itself; however, most courses will qualify for Professional Development Units certified by the instructor.