^ [[3 PM2-Agile – Overview]] # 3.2 Agile & PM2 PM2 is the official Project Management Methodology of the European Commission (EC). Its purpose is to enable Project Managers (PMs) to deliver solutions and benefits to their organisations by effectively managing the entire lifecycle of their project. PM2 has been created with the needs of European Union Institutions and projects in mind, but it’s **transferrable to projects in any organisation**. It is a well-balanced approach, enabling delivery teams to work autonomously while ensuring conformity with the enterprise structures and operations. **PM2 has built-in flexibility and does not prescribe specific processes at the technical level**. This approach enables the **rapid adoption of Agile practices.** Additionally, Agile teams can fully account for higher-level governance constraints by aligning with PM2. **IT projects must consider their organisations’ policies, decisions and communications**. Other factors to consider include: - a fixed **budgeting** cycle; - a traditional **command and control management** culture; - a traditional **waterfall** project lifecycle; - a functional/weak **matrix** project organisation; - clear **project-approval milestone**; - **upfront planning** and architecture decisions. These organisational factors, when accompanied by best-practices and activities (defined locally at an organisational/departmental level), can build a robust framework in which IT projects can be delivered. The clear set of roles and responsibilities also complements these factors thereby allowing team members to assume specific and well-defined responsibilities during the lifecycle of a project. The ==PM2== Project Management Methodology ==includes and discusses solutions for the above-mentioned constraints==. PM2 is a light and easy-to-implement methodology which project teams can tailor to their specific needs. The PM2 Methodology provides: - A project governance structure - Process guidelines - Artefact templates - Guidelines for using the artefacts - A set of effective mindsets PM2 acknowledges the complex and uncertain nature of many types of projects and the **positive contribution of the Agile attitude** to their effective management. However, **certain management requirements cannot be fully satisfied by using a purely Agile project management approach**. **PM2** is a comprehensive project methodology supported by a project governance structure with a **serial phase lifecycle**. It covers the full breadth of management and project delivery **while endorsing an enterprise-aware Agile approach**. The seamless integration of PM2 and Agile helps teams to be **policy-, process- and audit-compliant**. While accommodating audit requirements, working with contractors, collaborating on other projects and with other departments, and coordinating with programme and portfolio groups, PM2-Agile empowers project teams to achieve the desired 'agility'. PM2-Agile provides: - **Roles & Responsibilities** (as an ==extension to the PM2 Governance==) - **Integration** with the overall PM2 project lifecycle - Core **Themes** - A key set of **Ceremonies** - A set of suggested **Agile artefacts** (as an ==extension to the PM2 Artefacts==) - An Agile **glossary** - Agile **Tools & Techniques** ![[3.2 PM2-Agile elements within the context of PM2.png]] When Agile is chosen for a PM2 project, the **incremental and iterative development approaches enable a new delivery strategy**, which is materialised with the help of the PM2-Agile specific elements described in figure 3.2. **==Because it’s a PM2 project, all these specific elements are framed by the PM2 methodology, ensuring a solid connection throughout the entire project lifecycle via the governance model (Roles & Responsibilities) and the artefacts.==** Next: [[3.3 The PM2-Agile Model]]