Waterfall Project Management
Waterfall Project Management is the structured, sequential method of managing projects. Transparency and predictability are key skills, owing to its distinct phases from initiation to delivery. Its orderly approach ensures a clear pathway, enabling diligent risk anticipation and effective task delineation—enhancing team efficiency and project outcomes.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow clear steps and instructions to support simple projects using the Waterfall approach. You understand the importance of each project phase and help keep tasks organized and visible for your team. Your reliability helps maintain order and supports predictable project delivery.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to follow established Waterfall project plans and complete tasks within defined stages. You work under guidance to help maintain project documentation, meet deadlines, and support clear communication across your team. Your contributions help keep projects on track and build your confidence in structured project management.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to plan, manage, and deliver projects using the waterfall approach with minimal supervision. You consistently coordinate project phases, monitor progress, and adapt to changing needs to keep work on track. Your methodical approach increases project transparency and helps your team achieve reliable, high-quality results.
Vendor and Contract Management
Vendor and Contract Management is the effective regulation of suppliers and agreements in a project context. Within this discipline, the project manager utilises their knowledge of contract law, negotiation skills, and proactive behavior in managing relationships and enforcing terms. The impact is efficient project execution, cost control and risk mitigation.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow established procedures for working with vendors and managing contracts in your projects. You understand the basics of supplier relationships and ensure documents and requirements are accurate and complete. Your careful attention helps the team avoid common issues and supports smooth project delivery.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are supporting vendor and contract management activities under guidance, applying basic understanding of supplier agreements and project needs. You assist in tracking contract deliverables and help resolve straightforward issues. Your work helps maintain contract compliance and lays the groundwork for more effective supplier relationships in future projects.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are actively managing vendor relationships and contracts to support project goals, applying your understanding of contract terms and negotiation to resolve issues before they become problems. You monitor supplier performance and ensure compliance, making timely adjustments as needed. This leads to smoother project delivery, controlled costs, and reduced risk.
Task Scheduling
Task Scheduling is a key capability in project management which involves planning and sequencing tasks effectively to meet project objectives in a timely manner. This process requires adept skills in utilizing specialized project management tools and a keen understanding of team dynamics. Proper task scheduling minimizes project delays, optimizes resources and significantly enhances project delivery efficiency.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow clear instructions to organize and sequence project tasks using basic project management tools. You understand the importance of timelines and dependencies, and you seek guidance when needed. Your effective scheduling helps your team stay on track and contributes to meeting project deadlines.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to follow clear instructions to schedule tasks using basic project management tools. You are learning to recognize how task order and timing can affect project progress, and you seek guidance when faced with changes. Your growing skills help support team members and contribute to keeping projects on track.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently develop and adjust detailed task schedules using project management tools, taking team availability and dependencies into account. You actively look ahead to predict and resolve scheduling conflicts. This helps your projects stay on track and ensures resources are used effectively.
Status Reporting
Status Reporting is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing project data to communicate relevant information to stakeholders. It encompasses the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise, and actionable insights. Mastering this capability can significantly enhance decision making, project transparency, and stakeholder confidence.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to gather basic project updates and share them with your team using simple formats. You follow established reporting routines and confirm details with others where needed. Your work keeps everyone informed and begins to build trust in how project progress is communicated.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level, you are able to gather and organize project information to create basic status reports with some guidance. You present key updates to the team and stakeholders, occasionally asking for help to clarify complex points. This helps keep others informed and builds your confidence in project communications.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to consistently gather and analyze project data to create clear, concise status reports tailored to your audience. You reliably flag risks, changes, and progress, making complex project details easy to understand. Your status updates allow stakeholders to make informed decisions and boost overall trust in project delivery.
Stakeholder Engagement (Projects)
Stakeholder Engagement (Projects)' is the ability to effectively communicate, collaborate, and align project activities with internal and external stakeholders' expectations. It involves the use of interpersonal skills, empathy, and tact to navigate different viewpoints, ensuring all parties feel heard and valued. Effective stakeholder engagement ultimately contributes to smoother project execution and higher levels of stakeholder satisfaction.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to identify key project stakeholders and communicate basic information to them clearly and respectfully. You seek guidance when needed and ensure stakeholders are kept informed about project updates relevant to their interests. Your approach helps foster initial trust and supports smooth early-stage project interactions.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to identify and connect with project stakeholders, recognizing their roles and perspectives. You seek feedback and share basic project updates, aiming to build trust and understanding. Your efforts help to reduce misunderstandings and lay a foundation for stronger stakeholder relationships as the project progresses.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to identify key stakeholders for your project and maintain regular, two-way communication with them. You use empathy and active listening to understand their needs, concerns, and expectations, making sure these influence project decisions. This helps build trust, reduce misunderstandings, and keep your project on track.
Risk Identification and Mitigation
Risk Identification and Mitigation is the project management function of identifying and cataloguing potential threats to project completion or success. This includes understanding the nature of these threats, their potential impacts, and designing appropriate strategies to either avoid, control, or transfer them. By proactively managing risks, projects can remain on track, on budget, and maintain effectiveness.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize obvious risks to a project and bring them to the attention of your team or supervisor. You follow established processes to document risks as directed, helping to ensure they are not overlooked. Your involvement supports early awareness of potential problems and helps maintain steady project progress.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to recognize common project risks and can contribute to basic risk identification activities with guidance. You rely on established tools or checklists to spot potential issues and assist with simple mitigation actions. Your efforts help the team address obvious threats, supporting smoother project progress.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to systematically identify and assess potential risks throughout all project phases, drawing on your project management experience. You develop and implement practical mitigation plans, ensuring risks are communicated clearly to your team. This helps keep your project on track and minimizes unexpected problems.
Resource Estimation
Resource Estimation is your capacity to accurately predict the resources needed in a project. It involves considering the financial, human, and physical assets required. capabilityed estimation can optimize project efficiency and maintain budget control, helping deliver successful outcomes.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to identify the basic resources a project might need by following established checklists or guidance from others. You rely on set templates and seek input when unsure about financial, human, or physical requirements. This helps you contribute to reliable planning while building your confidence in resource estimation.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to estimate the basic resources your project needs, using simple guidelines or advice from others. You consider core financial and staffing requirements but may need support with more complex or changing demands. Your estimates help your team start planning, though you might miss some resource needs or overestimate costs.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to develop accurate resource estimates for projects by gathering relevant data and considering all key factors, including costs, staffing, and materials. You consistently analyze and balance resource needs while anticipating potential gaps. Your reliable forecasts support project planning and help the team stay on schedule and within budget.
Quality Management (Projects)
Quality Management (Projects) is the practice of ensuring product, service or process quality within a project framework. It encompasses the training, methodologies, and tools utilised to maintain and enhance the standard of delivered outcomes. Proper utilisation ensures project efficiency, client satisfaction and a reduction in wastages or errors.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are aware of the importance of quality in project outcomes and follow established procedures and guidelines to support quality standards. You seek guidance when unsure and complete required quality checks or documentation as directed. Your actions help minimize errors and support consistent, reliable project delivery.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are learning to apply established quality standards within project activities, seeking guidance when needed. You follow processes to monitor and check the quality of deliverables, recognizing common issues and raising them with your team. This helps build your understanding of how quality improves project outcomes and client trust.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to implement established quality management processes across a range of project types, monitoring outputs and identifying areas for improvement. You seek feedback and use available tools to address issues, ensuring quality standards are consistently met. Your approach reduces errors and strengthens client trust in project outcomes.
Project Team Leadership
Project Team Leadership is the capacity to effectively manage, motivate and communicate with a project team. Applying core skills such as delegation, decision making and conflict resolution within a project context ensures timely task execution. This competence fosters team trust and collaboration, advancing project progression and yielding successful outcomes.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are learning to contribute to project team tasks and communicate ideas clearly with your colleagues. You seek guidance from others when managing basic responsibilities and support team cooperation by being reliable and respectful. Your actions help build trust and keep the project moving forward.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to guide and support your project team, using clear communication and basic delegation to help achieve set goals. You seek input and assist in resolving straightforward issues, fostering a positive team environment. Your efforts contribute to building trust and encouraging cooperation within the project team.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to lead project teams with confidence, setting clear goals and communicating expectations to each team member. You delegate tasks effectively, resolve team conflicts, and support collaborative decision-making to keep the project on track. Your leadership builds trust, motivating the team to deliver high-quality results within project timelines.
Project Scoping
Project Scoping is the precise determination and mapping out of a project's objectives, deliverables, and resources. It requires sharp analytical skills to identify key tasks, estimate their durations, and determine the resources needed. A sound Project Scoping capability facilitates accurate project planning, cost estimation, and successful execution.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize the main goals, tasks, and outcomes needed for a project with guidance. You contribute to basic project scoping activities by gathering information and clarifying requirements. This helps your team set early direction and ensures everyone starts with a common understanding.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to break down project objectives into clear tasks and help identify basic deliverables. You assist more experienced colleagues in gathering information and estimating resources needed for small or low-risk projects. Your input helps ensure early project plans are on track and that key steps are considered from the start.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to clearly define project objectives, deliverables, and required resources, turning broad goals into detailed plans. You confidently break down tasks, estimate timeframes, and identify risks, ensuring everyone is clear on what needs to be done. Your precise scoping supports reliable project planning and smooth delivery.
Agile Project Management
Agile Project Management is a dynamic approach to leading projects, prioritizing flexibility and customer satisfaction through continuous improvement. It incorporates adaptability, close team interaction and customer collaboration to manage alterations smoothly and deliver value rapidly. As a result, it enhances organizational responsiveness and resilience in rapidly evolving business environments.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are aware of the principles of Agile Project Management and can recognize its key practices within your team's work. You contribute to Agile activities, support continuous improvement, and ask questions to clarify team priorities. Your involvement helps your team adapt to changes and deliver value to customers more quickly.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are learning to support agile project management practices within your team, such as attending stand-ups and adapting to changing priorities. You assist in testing new approaches and help your team respond to feedback. By doing this, you contribute to building flexibility and keeping projects aligned with customer needs.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to lead agile project teams, confidently managing change and prioritizing customer needs throughout each stage. You adapt plans as required, foster team collaboration, and regularly review progress to ensure value is delivered quickly. Your approach helps your projects respond effectively to shifting business demands.
Project Planning
Project Planning is a crucial capability in project management, requiring a precise understanding of project objectives and available resources. It involves drafting a planned approach to achieve set goals and outlines timelines for delivery. It establishes control measures, ensuring efficiency and reduced risk throughout the lifecycle of the project.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to contribute to project planning, supporting others in gathering basic information about project objectives, timelines and resources. You follow directions to help assemble simple project plans under supervision. This enables you to build your understanding of how effective planning supports project success.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to help draft project plans with guidance from others, identifying key tasks, resources, and timelines. You contribute to defining basic project controls and support the team in tracking progress. Your efforts help keep projects moving forward and build your confidence in managing simple planning tasks.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to plan projects with clear objectives, realistic timelines, and defined milestones, using available resources efficiently. You assess risks and put controls in place, adjusting plans as needed to keep the project on track. Your approach gives the team direction and helps deliver reliable outcomes for the organization.
Project Governance
Project Governance is the framework that provides strategic direction and control for a project. It includes decision-making models, risk management processes, and clearly defined roles & responsibilities. The impact of robust Project Governance is effective project outcomes, aligned with organizational objectives.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are aware of the basic principles of project governance and can identify the key roles and responsibilities in a project. You follow established processes for decision-making and risk management as directed by others. This helps you ensure your work aligns with project objectives and supports successful outcomes.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are learning to apply project governance principles in your work and understand why clear roles, decision-making processes, and risk controls matter. You follow established project governance frameworks with guidance, and your actions help keep projects on track and aligned with objectives. Your growing involvement supports stronger project outcomes.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are confidently applying agreed project governance frameworks to manage decision-making, risks, and roles throughout your projects. You adapt governance processes to suit project needs while ensuring alignment with organizational goals. This ensures clear accountability, reduces confusion, and supports successful project delivery.
Project Closure and Evaluation
Project Closure and Evaluation is a vital capability in Project Management, ensuring projects are concluded effectively. This capability includes skills such as conducting comprehensive project assessments, determining project successes and identifying areas for future improvement. Well-executed closure and evaluation processes can positively impact future project management and enhance organizational learning.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow established processes to help close a project and support basic evaluation activities under direction. You assist with gathering information and updating records to capture lessons learned. Your contribution helps ensure essential project closure tasks are completed and supports continuous improvement for future projects.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to contribute to project closure activities with guidance, such as helping gather project data and assisting with basic evaluations. You seek support to understand closure processes and learn from feedback. Your efforts help your team capture lessons that can improve future project outcomes.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently lead project closure activities, ensuring all project objectives and deliverables are reviewed and documented. You systematically capture lessons learnt, engaging stakeholders to identify successes and improvement opportunities. Your thorough evaluations support continuous improvement in future projects and contribute to building organizational knowledge.
Project Budgeting
Project Budgeting is the aptitude to plan, track, and manage the financial resources of a project. It requires crucial skills like understanding project scope, estimating costs accurately and forecasting potential risks. This creditable practice in Project Management intensifies efficiency, evades unnecessary expenditure, and heads towards successful project deliverance, optimizing economic performance.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are learning to assist with creating simple project budgets and tracking basic expenses under supervision. You follow established processes to help ensure costs align with the agreed plan, supporting your project team to stay within budget. Your careful attention helps minimize financial surprises and contributes to well-managed project outcomes.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to support project budgeting by assisting with cost estimates, simple tracking, and documentation under supervision. You apply basic principles to understand budget allocations and report variances for small or defined project tasks. Your contribution helps your team keep project finances visible and encourages careful use of resources.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to develop and manage project budgets with accuracy, adjusting forecasts and allocated resources as project needs change. You analyze financial data to track spending against plans and proactively address budget risks. Your careful management helps ensure projects meet their goals within financial limits, supporting strong project outcomes.
Milestone Tracking
Milestone Tracking is a pivotal project management capability centered on monitoring, recording and guiding project progress towards defined targets. It necessitates knowledge of analytical techniques and close collaboration skills to ensure accurate and timely project delivery. Effective Milestone Tracking can enhance efficiency, ensure timely completion and positively impact project outcomes.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize and record project milestones as they occur, following clear instructions from others. You depend on guidance to track progress and raise any basic issues you observe. Your work supports the team by helping to keep project timelines and goals visible to everyone involved.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to track project milestones with some guidance, reliably recording progress against set targets. You use basic tools and check-ins to help identify when tasks are slipping or on track, seeking support as needed. This helps your team stay informed and promotes more consistent project delivery.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently monitor and track project milestones, using established tools and methods to keep the project on schedule. You work closely with team members to address delays or risks, ensuring all milestones are met as planned. Your approach improves project reliability and supports timely, successful outcomes.
Issue Management
Issue Management is the proficient navigation and resolution of project disturbances. This requires comprehensive knowledge of project phases, robust problem-solving skills, and a proactive, adaptive behavior. By mitigating risks and managing stakeholders' expectations, it ensures project continuity, minimizes disruption and optimizes overall productivity.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize when issues arise in a project and report them promptly to the appropriate person. You follow existing processes to record basic information and support others in resolving simple problems. Your actions help ensure issues are not overlooked and project disruptions are minimized.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to spot basic issues as they arise and seek guidance to resolve them. You follow established processes to address project disturbances, learning to use available tools and resources. Your actions help maintain project progress and reduce minor disruptions while building your confidence in managing more complex challenges.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to identify, prioritize and resolve project issues with confidence, using a clear understanding of project stages and effective problem-solving. You act early to address risks, communicate transparently with stakeholders and keep projects on track. Your approach minimizes disruptions and helps deliver consistent, reliable outcomes.
Change Control
Change Control is the systematic approach to managing alterations or revisions to a project's scope. This methodology ensures that each adjustment - whether to timelines, resources, or objectives - is appropriately documented, assessed and authorized. Mastering Change Control mitigates risks, prevents scope creep, and contributes to the project's overall success.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are aware of the importance of recording and communicating changes to project scope, timelines, or resources. You follow established processes for documenting changes and seek guidance when needed. By doing this, you help maintain project clarity and support more experienced team members in managing changes effectively.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are starting to recognize when changes to project scope may impact timelines, resources, or objectives. You follow established change control processes with guidance, document adjustments, and seek the right approvals. This helps you build confidence in managing changes and protects your project from unexpected issues.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are confident in managing changes to project scope, ensuring all adjustments are properly recorded, evaluated, and approved before proceeding. You consistently balance project needs with stakeholder interests, minimizing disruption. Your methodical approach helps keep projects on track and prevents issues caused by unmanaged changes.
Business Case Development
Business Case Development is a crucial project management capability. It involves the proficient creation of well-defined and convincing proposals, which provide justification for implementing specific projects. Ultimately, this capability delivers strategic context rationale for projects, enabling sound investment decisions and contributing to project success.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to contribute basic information and ideas to support business case development within a project team. You help gather relevant data and follow established templates or guidance under supervision. Your involvement ensures the business case has accurate inputs and builds your understanding of project justification.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to assist in gathering relevant data and drafting sections of a business case under guidance. You contribute to shaping project proposals by organizing information and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Your support helps strengthen the clarity and rationale behind project recommendations.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to develop strong, structured business cases that clearly set out the need, options, costs, and benefits for projects. You draw on thorough analysis and stakeholder input to make sure your proposals are practical and strategically aligned. Your business cases give decision-makers confidence to approve or invest in the right projects.
Benefits Realization
Benefits Realization is the systematic process of identifying, planning, delivering and tracking the expected value from a project. This capability requires the capability to translate project objectives into measurable outcomes, understanding the strategic context and business needs. It ensures maximum value is delivered, driving successful project outcomes and sustainable business change.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are aware that projects need to deliver benefits and can identify the intended outcomes set by your team or project lead. You support the tracking and reporting of these benefits by following established processes. Your actions help ensure the project’s value is visible and aligned with business goals.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are supporting the identification and tracking of project benefits, following established processes and templates. You seek guidance to link project objectives to measurable outcomes, building your understanding of how benefits align with organizational strategy. Your contributions help ensure benefits are recognized and monitored throughout the project lifecycle.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to plan, track and report on project benefits to ensure they are delivered as intended. You identify measurable outcomes, link them to strategic goals, and adjust approaches when needed to maximize value. Your work helps the organization achieve clear, sustainable benefits from its projects.
