California on Monday published its new Project Management Framework (PMF), a 460-page guide that replaces the existing California Project Management Methodology (CA-PMM).
The Department of Technology's new Project Management Office developed the document and its accompanying website, which includes a suite of resources, recommended practices, templates and narratives for specific activities that should be performed. The new framework uses icons, colors and graphics to highlight objectives and make it user friendly.
The guide acknowledges the state's increasing interest in agile development:
"The Framework focuses on a product development and service delivery approach that follows a traditional waterfall methodology, which is presently the predominant methodology that the state uses for projects. However, the use of an iterative or adaptive lifecycle strategy, such as Agile development, still requires the Project Manager and the project team to work through the project management disciplines and determine how the processes should be adapted to the needs of the development approach," CA-PMF says.
The guide includes chapters on concept, initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. CA-PMF also details "key elements," such as roles, processes and activities.
The state says the new framework is iterative and will be updated as needed. Use of the CA-PMF is optional; state agencies may also choose to use an alternative Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)-based methodology.
