maturity concept

Why Use Maturity Models

Experience has shown that successful implementation of a project management method requires more than just training. It requires processes, technology, policies and standards for project management - which also need to be integrated with other management processes and systems. In the absence of an organisation wide approach, project results depend entirely on the availability of certain high performing individuals. This does not necessarily provide the basis for long-term or consistent project performance.
However, such approach doesn’t establish itself overnight. It may take several years; it may take a programme of change to institutionalise, which is exactly what CEDAR is about.

What is Programme & Project Management Maturity?

The use of a Maturity Model allows an organization to have its methods and processes assessed according to management best practices, against a clear set of benchmarks. Maturity is indicated by the award of a particular “Maturity Level”.
A robust model needs to recognise not only the management activities being carried out at the individual project level, but also those activities within an organisation that build and maintain a framework of effective project approaches and management practices.
The proper level of maturity to which an organization should strive is determined during a detailed assessment conducted by a professional consulting team. An organization has achieved full management maturity when it has met the requirements and standards for project management effectiveness as defined by the Maturity Models, and it is capable of demonstrating improvements such as on-time project delivery, quality management and organizational efficiency.
By undertaking a maturity assessment against an industry standard model, an organisation will be able to verify what they have achieved, where their strengths and weaknesses are, and then identify a prioritised action plan to take them to an improved level of capability.

What are the benefits?

The adoption of a project management maturity for UNDP can potentially become an important element to support the implementation of the revised programming processes as outlined in the RMG. More specifically, UNDP shall be able to identify the strengths and areas for improvement of Country Offices, HQ Units or Regional Centres that formulate, manage, implement, oversee and/or monitor projects, and build an action plan to improve their effectiveness in delivering development results. Such improvement plan will constitute a continuation of the existing RMG implementation plans carried out by UNDP offices under the CEDAR initiative.

Further, maturity assessment and certification of UNDP offices’ programme and project management shall provide the following benefits:

• A known maturity level, with precise recommendations on how to improve.
• A clear set of benchmarks.
• Performance assessment tools that are more effective and objective than the existing set of self-assessment practices.
• Ability to make comparison among UNDP Country Offices (as well as among various units i.e. Regional Centres, HQ units).
• Ability for UNDP to compare its maturity level with other organisations.
• More visibility and recognition by project partners and donors regarding UNDP’s capacity to manage programmes and projects.
• Further promote transparency and accountability.
• Improve UNDP’s ability to assess the capacity of implementing partners.

In addition, while such assessments would primarily look at key practices and compliance points, they should result in UNDP’s enhanced ability to assess the actual performance of programmes and projects (at global, regional country-levels) and their intended results, using a structured project management method.


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