---
ref_id: REF-11
ref_type: Companion
ref_index: 11
shortcode: GPPP
name: Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects — A Practice Guide
status: Active
version: "1.0.0"
file_path: "reference/companion-references/REF-11.md"
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Guide §2.1 (Governance Performance Domain) · Standard §3.6 (Accountable Leader)"
last_updated: "2026-06-03"
---

# REF-11 — Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects
**Shortcode:** GPPP  
**Publisher:** Project Management Institute (PMI), 2016  
**Authority:** PMBOK8 Companion — Multi-tier Governance Framework  
**Version:** 1.0.0 · **Status:** Active

## Full Bibliographic Citation
Project Management Institute. (2016). *Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide*. Project Management Institute. Official release: https://www.pmi.org/standards/governance

## What This Reference Adds Beyond PMBOK 8
GPPP defines the governance framework across all three delivery tiers — portfolio, program, and project — providing the structural logic for how governance decisions flow between layers. PMBOK 8 defines governance at the project level; GPPP extends this upward into portfolio governance boards, steering committees, and enterprise governance bodies. It is the primary reference for establishing the Governance and Decision Authority Record (A35) and for designing multi-project governance structures.

## PMBOK 8 Domain and Principle Coverage

| PMBOK 8 Element | GPPP Contribution |
|---|---|
| Governance Performance Domain (§2.1) | Multi-tier governance structure, forums, authority, and accountability |
| P4 — Be an Accountable Leader | Governance as the mechanism for making leadership accountability explicit |
| P1 — Adopt a Holistic View | Portfolio-level view: all projects within a governance system, not in isolation |

## PMOSkills Artifact and Skill Connections

| Item | Connection |
|---|---|
| A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record | GPPP is the primary authority reference for A35 governance structure |
| A39 — PMO Configuration and Authority Record | GPPP defines the PMO's role within a broader governance hierarchy |
| AUTHORITY-ROUTING.md | GPPP T1–T4 governance layer model informs the decision threshold model |
| SKL-02-04 — Establish Governance Structure | GPPP governance design principles are applied in this skill |

---
*Authority: PMI Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects (2016) · PMBOK8 §2.1*  
*Repository: https://github.com/fakhruldeen/PMOSkills*
