As a seasoned project, portfolio management (PPM) professional of over 25 years, with experience working with Canadian public sector agencies, I’ve seen firsthand the unique challenges these organizations face. The pressure to modernize operations, deliver value to citizens, and comply with strict regulations has never been higher. Yet, many agencies remain saddled with legacy systems that simply can’t keep pace.

The Challenges of Legacy Systems

In my conversations with colleagues across government, one theme is constant: change is the only constant. As the Project Management Institute puts it, “Change is inevitable, therefore some type of change control process is mandatory for every project.” However, legacy systems often struggle with change control, security vulnerabilities, operational inefficiencies, and a lack of scalability. This is especially true in environments that require support for multiple methodologies – something that is increasingly the norm in today’s complex public sector landscape.

A Noteworthy Industry Development

Recently, the acquisition of Sciforma by Planview – now known as Planview Sciforma – has caught the attention of the PPM community. This move could expand opportunities for Canadian public sector organizations seeking to evolve their project and portfolio management practices. While this is a noteworthy development, it’s important to approach it with a critical eye – focusing on the specific value this brings.

The Value Proposition for the Canadian Federal Government

From my perspective, Planview Sciforma stands out as a game changer for the Canadian federal government.  Here’s why:

1. Gartner Leading

Planview Sciforma’s position as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Strategic Portfolio Management highlights its contemporary strengths. In addition to the core PPM functionality you would expect, the cloud-based platform offers real-time analytics, powerful reporting, and seamless integrations, enabling data-driven decisions and rapid adaptation to change.

2. Hosted in Canada

The ability to host data within Canada is another fundamental requirement for federal agencies. Ensuring compliance with data sovereignty and residency regulations is non-negotiable, especially when dealing with sensitive information.

3. Natively Bilingual

Planview Sciforma is natively bilingual (English/French). I don’t mean the google translate bilingual, it is bilingual. For the Canadian Federal Government, this isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s a must-have. A critical component for compliance with official languages requirements.

A Compelling Option for the Canadian Public Sector

In summary, the combination of Gartner-leading capabilities, natively bilingual support, and Canadian hosting – along with the broader expertise brought by Planview’s acquisition – positions Planview Sciforma as a compelling option for any public sector PPM modernization.

Have questions? Reach out to Daniel Mixture below.