Power in Projects, Programs, and Portfolios (3rd ed.)

Tool 2.1: Assessment of Project Complexity

Purpose and Benefit
The complexity of a project plays a significant role in determining how the project should be executed. Therefore, it is crucial to assess from the very beginning what type of task you are facing. How complex is the task, and what strategy should be developed for the project?

• What constitutes the complexity?
• What are the key risks associated with the task?
• What strategic actions can we take?

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes a template ready to copy, as well as a Word file with an equivalent template.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1 Objective Hierarchy or Impact Case (Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1 Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1 Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2 Project Organization

Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy (Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)

Purpose and Benefit
The goal hierarchy and Impact Case focus on the effects that the project is expected to deliver. This can be referred to as the Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS).

• The goal hierarchy creates a connection between project deliverables and the project's intended effects.
• The goal hierarchy establishes a structure in the project to ensure a focus on creating the effects.
• The Impact Case is an extension of the goal hierarchy, emphasizing the necessary behavioral changes in employees, stakeholders, and customers.
• The Impact Case maps the project's value chain: deliverables, new competencies, new behaviors, immediate effects, and long-term impacts.
• The goal hierarchy and Impact Case enable ongoing and early tracking of effects (Benefit Tracking).

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes 4 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
Word file with 4 different templates for describing the goal hierarchy and Impact Case.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.2 Impact Case and Impact Analysis
• Tool 4.1 Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1 Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6 Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2 Project Organization

Tool 3.2: Impact Case and Impact Analysis

Purpose and Benefits
The project’s business case consists of both the expenditure and revenue sides. Expenditure tracking is done through budget follow-up, e.g., S-curves. The revenue side is evaluated through impact follow-up. Impact follow-up is carried out to:

• Ensure that the project delivers the impacts described in the goal hierarchy or the impact case.
• Establish a system that provides early warning when the impacts do not occur as planned.
• Ensure that the benefits are realized as planned.
• Provide quantitative follow-up on all types of impacts.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates ready for use.
• Word file with the corresponding 2 templates.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1 Objective Hierarchy (Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1 Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1 Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2 Project Organization

Tool 3.3: Assessment of Sustainability in the Project

Purpose and Benefits
Sustainability is a broad and complex topic that requires in-depth insight into specific technological possibilities, limits, industry standards, and both local and international legislation. Sustainable project management is a multifaceted concept, where the breadth of stakeholders expands, the temporal scope increases, the number of rules and standards grows, and the number of measurement points multiplies.

Therefore, it is not possible to create a tool that can "measure sustainability" in all projects across various situations.

The purpose of this tool is:

• To provide guidelines and principles for assessing sustainability in your project.
• To offer a few examples you can build upon.
• To convey ideas for developing a scale for assessments.
• To present a tool that can be used for reflection in the project and management regarding sustainability.
• To provide ideas on how to continuously assess the progress toward more sustainable project management.

This tool also describes four different methods for assessing sustainability in your project, templates 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology for the four different ways to assess sustainability in your project.
• Word file with 4 different templates to assess sustainability.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1 Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1 Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1 Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2 Project Organization

Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis

Purpose and Benefits

The stakeholder analysis forms the foundation for developing an attractive project objective, an  

appropriate and accepted approach for the project, an accepted decision-making process,

organizing with the involvement of the right people, a targeted communication strategy, identifying

key individuals and preventing potential conflicts of interest. It is carried out to:

• Identify who the stakeholders are
• Prioritize the most important stakeholders
• Understand stakeholders and their perceptions of the project
• Define appropriate measures to manage stakeholders in the best possible way

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 6 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
• Word file with 6 different templates to describe the stakeholders.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1 Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 5.1 Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6 Risk Analysis
• Tool 5.8 Agile Planning Board
• Tool 6.2 Project Organization
• Tool 8.1 Communication Plan

Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan

Purpose and Benefits
The milestone plan is created to provide an overview, allowing for effective management to ensure that deliverables and impacts are achieved on time and within budget. It helps establish a shared understanding and acceptance of tasks among project participants and stakeholders. The plan is designed to create momentum and intensity in the project so that deliverables and impacts are achieved with minimal effort and time consumption. It also ensures alignment between the project goals and the individual’s efforts and responsibilities.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
• Word file with 5 different templates for describing your milestone plan.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions

Purpose and Benefits

Activity descriptions, as the name suggests, involve describing the activities that precede each milestone. The purpose is to ensure a shared understanding of the activity and its objectives, enabling the delegation of tasks within the project. This is especially important when delegating tasks to departments or parties outside the project organization or to working groups within the project. Activity descriptions can also be used generally for the project’s main activities to ensure proper planning.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates ready to be copied.
• Word file with one template.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions

Purpose and Benefits
This tool ensures that milestones are clearly defined. A milestone is a result (sub-deliverable) achieved at a set point in time. The tool describes:

• What needs to be achieved, at what time, and who is responsible
• What inputs are necessary to achieve the milestone
• What criteria should be used to test the milestone
• Who approves the milestone

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 3 templates ready to be copied.
• Word file with 3 different templates to describe the milestones.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)

• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.4: Gantt Chart

Purpose and Benefits

The Gantt chart is created to provide an overview, enabling the management of deliverables and

ensuring they are achieved on time and within budget. Additionally, the purpose is:

• To establish a shared understanding and acceptance of tasks among project participants and stakeholders. Who is doing what and when.
• To create momentum and intensity in the project, ensuring that deliverables and impacts are achieved with minimal effort and time consumption.
• To align project goals with individual efforts and responsibilities.
• To provide a clear and easily understandable overview for project participants, stakeholders, and the steering committee.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates ready to be copied.
• Word file with 2 different templates to describe your plan.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.5: Three-Point Estimate and Successive Calculation

Purpose and Benefits

The purpose of the estimation methods is to achieve:

• A satisfactory assessment of the project’s time and resource consumption with minimal effort.
• A picture of the uncertainties in the estimates.

The methods therefore focus on breaking down uncertain activities. Since projects are unique tasks, nothing can be calculated completely objectively, but several methods can be used to produce a reliable estimate. Two methods are briefly described here: the Three-Point Estimate and Successive Calculation.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates ready to be copied.
• Word file with 2 different templates for describing the estimates.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis

Purpose and Benefits

• Identifies the risks that the project team can identify
• Assesses the severity of each identified risk
• Prioritizes the risks accordingly
• Defines solutions to prevent or mitigate these risks

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 5 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
• Word file with 5 different templates for describing the project’s risks.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.8: Agile Planning Board
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 5.7: Financial Follow-up

Purpose and Benefits
The principles outlined in this tool description are designed to ensure that financial follow-up is possible both in terms of project costs and the project's business.
Follow-up should be possible at the project, program, and portfolio levels.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 5 templates ready to be copied.
• Word file with 4 different templates for describing the finances.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit

Tool 5.8: Agile Planning Board

Purpose and Benefits
The visual planning board ensures:

• That everyone in the project has the same overview, thereby creating engagement and a shared focus.
• That all team members have the opportunity to provide input and share knowledge.
• To establish short feedback loops so that new knowledge is quickly applied within the project.
• To support the facilitation of brief follow-up meetings within the project team.

Content
The tool includes 3 PowerPoint files. One with a description of the tool and methodology, which contains 2 types of templates. Additionally, there are two PowerPoint files where the 2 templates can be printed as posters in 6 different variants:

• Tool 5.8 Template Standard 4:3
• Tool 5.8 Template Widescreen 16:9

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 6.1: Role Distribution Form

Purpose and Benefits

The responsibility allocation in the project must ensure professional quality, decision-making authority, and involvement of the “clients.” Projects are temporary, and many participants may not be familiar with the different roles within the project. Therefore, it is crucial that the allocation of responsibilities is clearly and distinctly described. This tool ensures that:

• Each individual's responsibilities and roles are clearly and distinctly described.
  
  
• There is a relevant division of labor among participants.
  
  
• There is appropriate involvement in the project, ensuring alignment between tasks and individual responsibilities.
  
  
• The task distribution is well thought out and easy to communicate.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and procedure. This file includes 2 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
Word file with 2 different templates.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Purpose and Benefits

The project organization must ensure professional quality, decision-making authority, and the involvement of the "customers." Projects are temporary, and many participants are not familiar with the different roles in the project beforehand. Therefore, it is essential that the organization is described clearly and distinctly. This tool ensures that:
• The project organization is described clearly and distinctly
• The organization has a relevant division of labor
• The three roles are kept separate: the project owner is decision-making and approving, the project team is executing, and the reference groups are advisory
• There is an appropriate structure in the project, so that there is coherence between tasks and organization

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes 6 templates ready to be copied into your project description.
Word file with 5 different templates ready to be copied into your project description.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan

Tool 6.3: The Resource Contract

Purpose and Benefits
The purpose of the resource contract is to provide an overview of resource usage in the project and to create a clear agreement with each project participant regarding the time and deliverables they are expected to contribute.
The resource contract is made between the project participant and the project manager. In the contract, deliverables, deadlines, and resource consumption for each participant are agreed upon, so that the project manager has a formal agreement, and participants can make it clear to their managers that they are booked for the project.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes a template.
Word file with a template to describe the agreement.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 7.1: Project Journal

Purpose and Benefits
The project manual is used to:
• Document decisions made within the project team and other working groups.
• Ensure follow-up on decisions.
• Minimize the need for written meeting minutes.

The project journal is used by the project manager and sub-project managers, who are responsible for different areas. It is filled out by the meeting leader, secretary, or project manager.
The project journal is used instead of meeting minutes. The advantage of the project journal is that there is only one list to be used for follow-up. With meeting minutes, you often need to go back two to three meetings to enable proper follow-up.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes a template.
Word file with a template.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation

Tool 7.2: Meeting Minutes

Purpose and Benefits
The purpose of the meeting minutes is to document decisions made during meetings that relate to the project. No on e expects you to record every minute of the meeting! You should only note down all decisions and action items. The meeting minutes should document the essence of what happened during the meeting and update those who could not attend.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes a template.
Word file with a template to describe the minutes.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation
• Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Tool 7.3: Review

Purpose and Benefits
• To break the silence and ensure that key stakeholders' concerns are brought to light.
• To systematize the quality assurance of the development work.
• To identify as many errors and deficiencies as possible in a piece of development work.

Therefore, it is a good idea to periodically stop and evaluate whether it is possible to optimize results, processes, and collaboration methods. In some organizations, reviews of projects are formalized and are part of the project management model. In other cases, reviews are initiated when we have a bad feeling about the progress.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes 3 templates ready to be copied.
Word file with a template.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.2: Activity Descriptions
• Tool 5.3: Milestone Descriptions
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation

Tool 7.4: Visual Planning Board

Purpose and Benefits

• The visual planning board ensures:
• That everyone in the project has the same overview, thus creating engagement and a shared focus.
• That everyone has the opportunity to contribute input and knowledge.
• The establishment of short feedback loops, so that new knowledge is quickly applied in the project.
• Support for facilitating brief follow-up meetings within the project team.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes 2 types of templates. The two types of planning boards are available as posters in Tool 5.8: Agile Planning Board. If you wish to download and print the templates as posters, refer to Tool 5.8.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 5.8: Agile Planning Board
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation

Purpose and Benefits
• To ensure the desired effect of the planned meeting or workshop.
• To ensure coherence between the five dimensions that good facilitation includes.
• To ensure that the purpose and outcome of the workshop are crystal clear.
• To ensure that the right people are involved and the right environment is created.
• To ensure that the process is appropriately designed and supported by the right methods and materials.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes a template ready to be copied.
Word file with a template to describe the meeting or workshop.

Connections to Other Tools
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 8.1: Communication Plan

Purpose and Benefits

• Communication always has a purpose that should support the project. Overall, communication aims to create and maintain awareness and support for the project. Therefore, the communication plan should ensure that:
  
  
• We achieve the desired effect from the communication.
  
  
• The communication reaches and engages the relevant target groups.
  
  
• There is coherence between the different messages, media, and the individuals who need to convey the messages.
  
  
• The correct media are used to create the desired effect.
  
  
• The timing is right for each initiative. First, awareness of the issue must be created before communication can aim to change attitudes and behavior.
  
  
• The combination of messages, media, messengers, and timing is executed cost-effectively for the target groups.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file includes 3 templates ready to be copied.
Word file with 3 different templates to describe your plan.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 8.2: Analysis of Resistance to Change (The Double Entry Bookkeeping)

Tool 8.2: Resistance to Change Mapping

(The Double-Entry Bookkeeping)

Purpose and Benefits
In projects involving organizational changes, many employees may feel insecure about the changes and thus exhibit some resistance. Therefore, it is advisable to assess stakeholders' challenges with the planned changes. The analysis is carried out to:

• Optimize change communication and ensure that employees feel secure during the transition to the new situation.
• Assess how each stakeholder relates to the project.
• Evaluate the level of contribution or sacrifice each stakeholder must make as a result of the project.
• Identify areas of concern for each stakeholder regarding the future solution.
• Develop actions that can minimize stakeholders' resistance or maximize their benefits.

Content

• PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and the approach. This file contains a template ready for copying.
• Word file with a template for describing the situation.

Connections to other tools

• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 7.5: Facilitation Playbook
• Tool 8.1: Communication Plan

Tool 8.3: Discourse and the Narrative of the Project

Purpose and Benefit

The analysis helps you to:
• Understand the discourse in the communication the project is exposed to.
• Counteract linguistic power influences.
• Build your communication about the project with a suitable discourse.
• Help you use language as a tool of power.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 3 templates that can be copied directly.
Word file with 3 different templates.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 8.1: Communication Plan
• Tool 8.2: Resistance to Change Mapping (Double Entry Bookkeeping)

Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Purpose and Benefit
A significant part of the project manager's role is to facilitate various meetings and workshops. These typically include steering group meetings, sprint meetings, idea generation meetings, planning workshops, team-building activities, workshops with stakeholders, and project team meetings. Your task as a facilitator is to create motivation, engagement, and learning among the participants. This tool aims to help you achieve this.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of tools and methodologies for different workshops. The descriptions focus on:

• Participants: Who should attend to meet the objectives of the meeting.
• Process: The process is the roadmap for the meeting or workshop, including time intervals and stops along the way. Regardless of the processes you implement, a key requirement is that the processes engage all participants throughout.
• Methods: It is crucial to use methods that ensure this involvement. Use visual methods such as post-its, cardboard, posters, flipcharts, large screens, creativity techniques, images, etc.
• Workshop Environment: Can everyone see? Are there small tables for group discussions? Is there enough floor space and light? The arrangement can create the desired atmosphere, and the room should provoke curiosity and appropriately disrupt. Consider colors, lighting, visualization, and music.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 7.5: Facilitator's Playbook

Tool 9.1: Recruiting the Project Team  

Purpose and Benefit
• Ensure the right professional competencies for the project
• Ensure the right social competencies and engagement from the start

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates: Job advertisement and interview question framework.
Word file with 2 different templates: job advertisement and interview question framework.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation  
• Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Tool 9.2: Team Ground Rules

Purpose and Benefit
The purpose of defining ground rules is to create a shared understanding within the project team of how collaboration should function. It is a conversation. Team members should, therefore, work together to formulate the ground rules that this specific group should aim for.
The ground rules can be defined during the team’s startup phase or later if early conflicts arise. In the startup phase, there are typically no conflicts yet, which allows for a freer discussion. At the same time, these ground rules can help prevent or reduce conflicts.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 3 templates.
Word file with 3 different templates.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation  
• Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Tool 9.3: Evaluation and Feedback

Purpose and Benefit
Evaluation and feedback are tools to identify inappropriate behavior and, therefore, provide an opportunity to correct it. However, an equally important purpose of the evaluation is to give – and receive – information about what is being done well. Positive evaluation encourages specific behavior and simultaneously boosts individual or group confidence and energy.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template with feedback in the four fields: "What went well?", "Why?", "What could be better?", and especially: "What will we do differently next time?"
Word file with a template that follows the same structure as the PowerPoint file.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation  
• Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Tool 9.4: Planning Workshop

Purpose and Benefit
A planning workshop is used at the beginning of the project and at phase starts in larger projects. It is important that everyone has a common understanding of the task, so participants share a common goal. According to Belbin, we are only a team when we have shared goals. Thus, a planning workshop is a good way to get to know each other while discussing the common task.

The planning workshop can have several purposes:

• We create a shared understanding of the project.
  
  
• Ensure the quality of the plan by involving all relevant areas in the planning process.
  We get an understanding of where each person can contribute and identify areas where we lack knowledge.
  
  
• Participants gain ownership of the project and the plan.
  
  
• Participants gain insight into each other’s competencies and tasks.
  
  
• Ensure acceptance and ownership of the plan by having all responsible participants involved in planning.
  
  
• Achieve quick mobilization and start of the project.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the methodology in the planning workshop:

1. Break the project into areas of focus based on the deliverables.
2. Define milestones for each area of focus – start backwards by asking how the deliverable will be achieved.
3. Introduce dependencies and the chronological sequence.
4. Break the project into phases and key decision points.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 7.5: Storyboard for Meeting Facilitation  
• Tool 8.4: Workshop and Involvement

Tool 10.1: Project List

Purpose and Benefit
The "Project List" template is filled out to:
• Collect key figures from all projects into a single document.
• Provide the product committee/steering groups with an overview of all projects.
• Create the possibility for an overall resource and investment calculation.
• Gather data on all projects to enable portfolio management.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template that can be copied directly.
Word file with a template.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 10.2: Portfolio Overview
• Tool 10.3: Project Key Figures (KPI)
• Tool 10.4: Health Check or Risk Score
• Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit
• Tool 10.10: Project Pipeline

Tool 10.2: Portfolio Overview

Purpose and Benefit
The project portfolio is displayed graphically to:

• ‘Provide an image that, on an A4 page, gives a quick overview of the factors that the portfolio management must decide on.
  
  
• Give the product committee/steering groups an overview of the state of the project portfolio.
  
  
• Gather data on all projects to enable portfolio management and prioritization.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 3 templates.
Word file with a template to describe the portfolio.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.3: Project Key Figures (KPI)
• Tool 10.4: Health Check or Risk Score
• Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit
• Tool 10.10: Project Pipeline

Tool 10.3: Project KPI's, Project Key Figures

Purpose and Benefit
The "Project Key Figures" template is filled out to:
• Collect the most important key figures in one document.
• Track the ongoing development of the project's key figures.
• Provide the steering group with the ability to compare projects based on selected key figures.
• Create the possibility for an overall resource prioritization.
• Gather data on the project's development for lessons learned.
• Collect data for the individual project that can be summarized to the portfolio's value.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates.
Word file with 2 different templates to describe the key figures.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit
• Tool 10.10: Project Pipeline

Tool 10.4: Health Check or Risk Score

Purpose and Benefit
The "Risk Score" or "Health Check" analysis is filled out to:
• Assess the project's risk in a standardized way so that it can be compared with other projects.
• Assess the project's risk at different stages of the project lifecycle.
• Focus attention on uncertain areas within the project.
• Create a basis for prioritizing projects to balance the project portfolio.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template divided into 8 slides that can be copied directly.
Word file with a 5-page template.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 10.1: Project List

Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit

Purpose and Benefit
The "Strategic Fit" template is filled out to:

• Give the product committee/steering group the ability to prioritize projects based on business and strategic considerations.
• Create the possibility to compare and prioritize projects.
• Evaluate whether the project remains business-relevant throughout the project lifecycle.
• The strategic fit of the project is assessed based on a series of statements. These statements focus on the expected outcomes of the project, which may be strategic, political, or business-related.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template that can be copied directly.
Word file with a template.

Connections to Other Tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.3: Project Key Figures (KPI's)

Tool 10.6: Portfolio Weight

Purpose and Benefit
• To make a balanced ranking of projects
• To rank projects based on impact, task size, and complexity
• To prioritize projects that deliver the highest impact in the shortest time
• To ensure a realistic spread in the evaluation of projects

In several agile methods (e.g., Half Double), Donald Reinertsen’s portfolio weight is used.

The starting point is to prioritize projects that deliver the highest impact in the shortest time. This is a mathematical model that gives each project a score. The higher the score, the higher the portfolio weight, and thus the more important the project.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template ready to copy.
Word file with a template to describe portfolio weight.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.8: Project Descriptions, Project Contract
• Tool 10.9: Idea Description
• Tool 10.10: Project Pipeline

Tool 10.7: Project Models, Project Management Models

Purpose and Benefit
The project model aims to ensure the quality of the project's product. It provides a common language and conceptual framework for the organization regarding project execution. The model defines a project process. The project management model ensures the quality of management activities in the projects.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template ready to copy. The tool describes both a "project model" and a "project management model."
Word file with a template to describe the project model or project management model.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization
• Tool 10.2: Portfolio Overview

Tool 10.8: Project Descriptions, Project Contract

Purpose and Benefit
• To define the agreement between the steering group and the project manager
• To define what the project group is expected to deliver at agreed times
• To define the resources (money and time) allocated to the project
• To define roles and responsibilities in the project
• To define the overall timeframes for the project
• The project description defines the three corners of the project triangle: the quality of the    deliverables, time, and resources.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a 3-page template ready to be copied into your project description. The description also includes several helper tools to draft the project description.
Word file with a template to describe the project. The file also includes some helper tools to draft the project description.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 4.1: Stakeholder Analysis
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 5.6: Risk Analysis
• Tool 6.2: Project Organization

Tool 10.9: Idea Description

Purpose and Benefit
The idea description template is used to document ideas in a simple, systematic form. The idea description template is structured so that it can be completed without knowing facts such as market size, cost level, etc. These business-related factors should be clarified later if the idea proves to be interesting.

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains 2 templates: one for internal projects and one for product development projects.
Word file with 2 different templates: one for internal projects and one for product development projects.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 3.1: Objective Hierarchy and Impact Case, Objective Breakdown Structure (OBS)  
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.5: Strategic Fit
• Tool 10.8: Project Descriptions, Project Contract

Tool 10.10: Project Pipeline

Purpose and Benefit
• To create a visual representation of ongoing and planned projects
• To plan how many projects should be carried out simultaneously
• To show the order in which projects should be executed
• To show which subsequent projects might be affected by potential delays

Content
PowerPoint file with a description of the tool and methodology. This file contains a template to describe the project pipeline, ready to copy.
Word file with a template ready to copy.

Connections to other tools
• Tool 5.1: Milestone Plan
• Tool 6.3: Resource Contract
• Tool 10.1: Project List
• Tool 10.6: Portfolio Weight
• Tool 10.7: Project Models, Project Management Models
• Tool 10.8: Project Descriptions, Project Contract