A portfolio is a collection of projects used to structure and manage investments at an organisational or functional level to optimize strategic benefits or operational efficiency. They can be managed at an organisational or functional level.

Portfolio Management

Where projects are focused on deployment of outputs, and outcomes and benefits, respectively, portfolios exist as coordinating structures to support deployment by ensuring the optimal prioritization of resources to align with strategic intent and achieve best value. Portfolio Management

To shape the portfolio, the sponsor and portfolio manager seek out visibility of plans of the constituent projects agree how to reshape those constituent parts depending on:

• The organisation’s ability to resource the whole portfolio.
• Any changes to strategic direction or pace of strategic implementation.
  

  Portfolio plan

  A portfolio plan is a depiction in words and diagrams of what the portfolio comprises, its major dependencies, expected timescales and major deliverables, defining how the portfolio will be managed. Supporting analyses may include cost and benefit schedules, key risks and major stakeholders. Portfolio Management

  Portfolio risks

  Portfolio risks would typically cover those internal and external events that will impact on the portfolio overall rather than any single project or programme. They may include such things as resource availability, implementation capacity, investment constraints and regulatory matters.