Portfolio Management (Part 2)

TRAINING INTRODUCTION

Portfolio Management is the strategic process of selecting, prioritizing, and controlling an organization’s projects and programmes to align with its overarching objectives and optimize the use of limited resources. Unlike project or programme management, which focuses on execution, portfolio management ensures that all investments contribute to strategic goals and deliver maximum value.

This training is designed to build the capabilities of executives, strategic planners, senior managers, and portfolio officers to manage multiple projects and programmes as a unified portfolio, with attention to value creation, risk management, resource optimization, and alignment with strategic goals.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concepts, principles, and frameworks of portfolio management
• Establish governance structures to support portfolio oversight and decision-making
• Evaluate and prioritize projects and programmes based on strategic value
• Balance risk, resources, and returns across the portfolio
• Monitor portfolio performance and adapt based on evidence
• Align the portfolio with dynamic organizational strategies and environments

 

COURSE CONTENT:

Module 1: Introduction to Portfolio Management

• What is portfolio management?
• Portfolio vs. programme vs. project management
• Benefits and challenges of portfolio management

Module 2: Portfolio Management Frameworks and Standards

• PMI, MoP®, and other global standards
• Portfolio structures in public, private, and development sectors

Module 3: Strategic Alignment of Portfolios

• Linking portfolio components to organizational strategy
• Vision, mission, KPIs, and strategic objectives

Module 4: Portfolio Governance and Organizational Structure

• Roles: Portfolio Board, Sponsors, Managers, Executives
• Governance frameworks and decision-making authority

Module 5: Portfolio Selection and Prioritization

• Criteria for project and programme inclusion
• Scoring models, value matrices, and prioritization techniques

Module 6: Portfolio Balancing and Optimization

• Balancing risk, value, resource capacity, and strategic fit
• Managing trade-offs and conflicts

Module 7: Portfolio Planning and Integration

• Creating and updating a portfolio roadmap
• Interdependencies and strategic milestones

Module 8: Resource Management Across the Portfolio

• Resource capacity planning
• Resolving bottlenecks and managing constraints

Module 9: Risk and Issue Management at the Portfolio Level

• Portfolio-level risk identification and aggregation
• Early warning systems and escalation protocols

Module 10: Financial Management and Investment Appraisal

• Budgeting and funding strategies
• Cost-benefit analysis and value for money (VfM)

Module 11: Performance Monitoring and Metrics

• Portfolio dashboards and performance indicators
• Monitoring outcomes, not just outputs

Module 12: Benefits Realization and Value Tracking

• Linking benefits across projects and programmes
• Real-time and post-completion tracking systems

Module 13: Change and Stakeholder Management

• Managing organizational change through portfolio delivery
• Stakeholder mapping, communication, and engagement

Module 14: Portfolio Reporting and Communication

• Internal and external reporting formats
• Portfolio reviews, audits, and strategic briefings

Module 15: Maturity Models and Continuous Improvement

• Portfolio maturity assessments
• Tools and roadmaps for capability development

Module 16: Capstone Project – Developing a Portfolio Management Strategy

• Teams create a portfolio management framework for a fictional or real organization
• Includes governance model, prioritization matrix, risk register, and performance plan
• Presentation and peer critique

 

ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION

• Participation and exercises (20%)
• Case studies and individual assignments (30%)
• Final capstone project (50%)

Successful participants will be awarded a Certificate in Portfolio Management.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Portfolio managers and senior project/programme managers
• Strategic planners and directors
• Government and NGO leadership teams
• Donor agencies and funding institutions
• Corporate and development sector decision-makers
• PMO staff and project governance professionals

 

OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

• Sector-specific portfolio management (e.g., development, health, infrastructure)
• Tools/templates: prioritization matrices, dashboards, risk registers
• Integration with PMIS tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, Smartsheet, Power BI)
• Facilitator’s guide, presentation slides, and e-learning modules