The PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.0.1 - Current Edition

Sep 12, 2026

The PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.0.1 provides a structured framework for understanding projects and project management, including core concepts, roles, and documentation needs. It introduces the intended objectives and audience, explains the PM² methodology and the Centre of Excellence in PM² (CoEPM²), and outlines the Open PM² initiative and publications. The guide then presents an overview of the methodology’s House of PM² and the PM² lifecycle, detailing initiating and subsequent phases as well as distinctions between projects, operations, and programme or portfolio contexts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages147

Reading Time51 min

AccessFree to download

1 An Introduction to the PM² Guide

1.1 Objectives

1.2 Intended Audience

1.3 About the PM² Methodology

1.4 The Centre of Excellence in PM² (CoEPM²)

1.5 The Open PM² Initiative

2 Project Management

2.1 About Projects

2.2 About Project Management

2.3 Project Environment

3 Overview of the PM² Methodology

3.1 The House of PM²

3.2 The PM² Lifecycle

Project Management Methodology Guide 3.0.1 European Commission Centre of Excellence in Project Management (CoEPM² ) PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.0.1 Brussels | Luxembourg, 2021 Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information. Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*)The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone boxes or hotels may charge you) . More information on the European Union is available on the internet ( [http://europa.eu](http://europa.eu)) . Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021 ISBN: 978-92-76-31380-9 doi: 10.2799/08869 © European Union, 2021 Reproduction and reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The PM² logo is the property of the European Union and may not be registered as a trademark or otherwise, nor used separately from these documents. Neither the publication nor the logo can be used in a way which suggests endorsement of an external organisation by the European Union. Title: The PM² Project Management Methodology Guide 3.0.1 Current Edition: The PM² Guide v3 .0. 1, March 2021 Previous Editions: The PM² Guide ʹ ǀ2 .5, September 2015 The PM² Guide – Open Edition, ǀ0 .9, November 2016 The PM² Guide – ǀ3 .0, December 2018 Authors and Contributors of the PM² Methodology Guide: Appendix A: Contributions and Acknowledgements Produced and published by: the European Commission, DIGIT Centre of Excellence in Project Management (CoEPM²) Email: EC-PM2@ec.europa.eu Join the Open PM² Community and stay in touch for updates: [http://europa.eu/](http://europa.eu/) !gb87FF [https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/openpm2-contact](https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/openpm2-contact) I The PM² Methodology Guide v3.0.1 Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 An Introduction to the PM² Guide ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Objectives .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Intended Audience ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.3 About the PM² Methodology ............................................................................................................ 1 1.4 The Centre of Excellence in PM² (CoEPM²) .......................................................................................2 1.5 The Open PM² Initiative..................................................................................................................... 2 1.5.1 Open PM² Publications.................................................................................................................3 1.5.2 Project Support Network (PSN)....................................................................................................3 2 Project Management................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 About Projects ...................................................................................................................................5 2.1.1 What is a project? ........................................................................................................................5 2.1.2 Why we do projects .....................................................................................................................6 2.1.3 Project outputs, outcomes, benefits............................................................................................6 2.2 About Project Management ...........................................

FAQs

What is the purpose and target audience of the PM² Guide 3.0.1?

The guide defines its objectives and the intended audience, positioning the PM² methodology for use in project management contexts. It also explains how the PM² approach is organized through its key concepts and lifecycle view.

What topics are covered under Project Management in the PM² Guide?

The guide covers what projects are, why organizations do projects, and how project outputs, outcomes, and benefits relate. It also explains project management, including documentation, the Project Support Office, programme management, portfolio management, and the difference between projects and operations.

How does the guide describe the PM² methodology structure and lifecycle?

It introduces the House of PM² and then presents the PM² lifecycle, including the initiating phase and how subsequent phases fit within the lifecycle model.

Sep 12, 2026

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