BS ISO 21502-2020 PDF

Full title and description

BS ISO 21502-2020 — Project, programme and portfolio management — Guidance on project management. This is the British adoption of ISO 21502:2020 and provides high‑level guidance and good‑practice descriptions for managing projects across organisations, delivery approaches and life‑cycle models.

Abstract

ISO 21502:2020 delivers guidance on project management practices (governance, life cycle, roles, integrated practices and management practices) applicable to public, private and non‑profit organisations and to projects of any size, complexity or delivery approach (predictive, incremental, iterative, adaptive, hybrid, including agile). It focuses on practical, non‑prescriptive descriptions of practices to support successful project delivery and does not provide detailed guidance for programme or portfolio management.

General information

• Status: Published (International standard; adopted as a British Standard - BS ISO 21502-2020).
• Publication date: ISO first edition published December 2020 (catalogue date 21 Dec 2020); national adoptions (e.g., listed as published / registered January 2021).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO); adopted nationally by BSI as BS ISO 21502-2020.
• ICS / categories: 03.100.40 (Research and development; project, programme and portfolio management).
• Edition / version: First edition, 2020 (ISO 21502:2020).
• Number of pages: 52 pages (English edition).

Scope

This document gives guidelines for project management and is applicable to any organisation (public, private or charitable) and to any type of project regardless of purpose, delivery approach, life‑cycle model, complexity, size, cost or duration. It provides high‑level descriptions of practices considered to work well in project contexts; it does not give detailed guidance for programme or portfolio management. Delivery approaches covered include predictive, incremental, iterative, adaptive and hybrid (including agile).

Key topics and requirements

• Project management concepts: definitions, context, constraints and alignment with organisational strategy.
• Project governance: governance framework, business case, decision points and assurance.
• Project life cycle and phases: initiation, delivery, control, closing and post‑project activities (including pre‑ and post‑project activities).
• Roles and organisation: sponsor, project board, project manager, project office, team members, stakeholders and related responsibilities.
• Integrated project management practices: overseeing, directing, initiating, controlling and delivery management.
• Management practices for projects: planning, benefits management, scope, resources (people and material), schedule, cost, risk, issues, change control, quality, procurement, communication, information management and lessons learned.
• Prerequisites and continuous improvement: considerations for implementing and aligning project management with organisational systems and capability development.

Typical use and users

Intended users include project managers and project team members, project sponsors and governing bodies, project and programme offices (PMOs), senior management, auditors, consultants, trainers and those who develop organisational or national project management processes and guidance. The standard is used to establish common practices, define roles, align projects to strategy and improve benefit realisation and controls.

Related standards

ISO 21502 forms part of the ISO project, programme and portfolio management family and is linked with ISO 21500 (context and concepts, updated), ISO 21503, ISO 21504 and other related guidance documents in the 21500 series; ISO 21502:2020 cancels/replaces material from ISO 21500:2012 with a restructured, practice‑based approach. Additional guidance standards (e.g., on earned value, post‑evaluation and other project-related topics) are published or under development within ISO/TC 258.

Keywords

project management, project governance, project life cycle, benefits management, stakeholder management, project roles, PMO, planning, risk management, change control, ISO 21502, BS ISO 21502-2020.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: BS ISO 21502-2020 is the British adoption of ISO 21502:2020, titled "Project, programme and portfolio management — Guidance on project management", giving high‑level guidance on project management practices.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers concepts, governance, life cycle, roles, integrated practices and detailed management practices (planning, benefits, scope, resources, schedule, cost, risk, issues, change, quality, procurement, communications and lessons learned). It describes practices suitable for a wide range of delivery approaches (including agile/hybrid). It does not provide detailed programme or portfolio management guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Project managers, sponsors, PMOs, executives, auditors, consultants, trainers and organisations standardising or improving project management practices. Academics and developers of organisational methods also use it as a reference.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 21502:2020 is the current ISO guidance for project management (first edition, Dec 2020) and, together with updated ISO 21500 material, it cancels/replaces ISO 21500:2012. National adoptions (such as BS ISO 21502-2020) reflect the ISO text. Users should check national catalogues for the adopted national publication details.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of ISO/TC 258's project, programme and portfolio management family (the 21500 series), which includes related documents on context and concepts, programme and portfolio guidance and other supporting standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Project management, governance, life cycle, benefits, stakeholder management, PMO, planning, risk, change control, ISO 21502, BS ISO 21502-2020.