Rescinded [2019-10-11] - Standard for Organizational Project Management Capacity

1.1 This revised standard takes effect on December 9, 2010.

1.2 It replaces the 2007 version of the Treasury Board Standard for Organizational Project Management Capacity.

1.3 This standard is to be phased in over a five-year period in conjunction with the Policy on Investment Planning – Assets and Acquired Services.

1.4 Departments will have until April 1, 2012 to implement this standard.

2.1 This standard applies to all departments as defined in section 2 of the Financial Administration Act, unless specific acts or regulations override it.

3.1 Deputy heads are responsible for the effective management of projects in their organization. This standard establishes the mandatory assessment process that Treasury Board has approved for government-wide use. The Treasury Board Policy on the Management of Projects requires deputy heads to ensure that their organization is accurately assessed to determine its class of project management capacity for the purposes of project approval and expenditure authority.

3.2 The nature of and demand for project management capacity in departments varies considerably across the Government of Canada. Not every department needs to develop extensive capacity to manage projects. A department's and government's investment in developing and maintaining project management capacity is a direct function of the benefits that can be achieved by realizing outcomes and risk management in individual projects. This includes stronger program and investment portfolio management as well as consideration of the investment and maintenance costs associated with project management capacity.

3.3 Projects are managed in a manner that is consistent with the assessed level of complexity and risk. This includes demonstrating that both knowledgeable, integrated, multi-disciplinary project teams and effective project management systems and processes support the project management function.

3.4 The Organizational Project Management Capacity Assessment Tool provides the basis for determining the class of organizational capacity to manage projects and will assist in identifying areas of capacity that should be improved or maintained, in light of the department's business activity.

3.5 The Organizational Project Management Capacity Assessment Tool rates the class of organizational capacity to manage projects across 5 classes by evaluating criteria in each of the following project knowledge areas:

• Organizational integration
• Core project management
• Supporting project management

Note: Deputies with limited program expenditures intended for projects should assess the cost (resources) needed to establish project management regimes appropriate for the department's business activity.

3.6 This standard is issued pursuant to section 7 of the Financial Administration Act.

3.7 This standard is to be read in conjunction with the Policy on the Management of Projects, the Policy on Investment Planning – Assets and Acquired Services, and the Standard for Project Complexity and Risk

 3.8 Treasury Board has provided to the Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada the authority to issue such operational standards as necessary.

4.1 Departments and agencies submitting an investment plan to comply with the Policy on Investment Planning, must demonstrate, through assessment, organizational project management capacity in order to exercise the project approval authorities defined in Appendix A of the Policy on the Management of Projects. 

4.2 Assessments are to be completed using the Organizational Project Management Capacity Assessment Tool and the resulting capacity class is to be approved by Treasury Board at least once every three years, normally as part of the consideration of the department's investment plan as set out in the Policy on Investment Planning – Assets and Acquired Services. 

4.2.1 Assessments are to take into account all planned projects, which must be contained within the investment plan.

4.3 The Treasury Board Secretariat is advised, in a timely manner, of any significant changes to the organizational project management capacity and the Treasury Board approved assessment class.  If requested, by the Treasury Board Secretariat the capacity assessment is to be revised and submitted to the Treasury Board Secretariat.

4.4 Deputy heads and agencies are required to monitor the use and effectiveness of the delegated project approval levels within the department's management control framework through the following:

• Internal audits and evaluations
• Periodic Management Accountability Framework (MAF) updates
• Updated capacity assessments to support revised authorities
• Submission of the department's investment plan

4.5 When there is no evidence, nor business case, supporting the development of a departmental project management capacity, Treasury Board has limited the expenditure authority for project approval to $1 million.

Please direct enquiries about this policy instrument to the organizational unit in your department responsible for this subject matter. For interpretation of this policy instrument, the responsible organizational unit should contact: TBS Public Enquiries.