Episode 7: Tell Your Neighbor - What is IP2M METRR?

Feb 20

In this short “Tell Your Neighbor” segment of Let’s Talk EVM, Daniel Goldsmith returns as guest, and this time Amber Young joins the conversation as a guest (not a co-host) to help break down a topic many listeners have heard referenced—but may not fully understand: IP2M METRR.

The segment introduces IP2M METRR as a framework tied to Integrated Program and Project Management, and explains how it’s used to assess the health of large, complex project environments. Together, the group walks listeners through what the framework is, where it came from, and why it matters—without getting lost in jargon.

Daniel describes IP2M METRR as the product of a multi-year, research-backed collaboration involving government agencies, industry partners, and academic research led by Arizona State University, with support from the Department of Energy. The early goal: develop a structured way to evaluate Earned Value Management systems by studying what factors show up in successful versus unsuccessful projects—using document reviews, surveys, workshops, and broad stakeholder participation.

Amber shares her firsthand experience with the framework, including participation in early Department of Energy assessments and continued involvement in the study effort. She offers a clear “neighbor-friendly” way to understand the two major parts of the approach:

Maturity: the traditional EVMS world—processes, rigor, structures, and the established body of knowledge (think baseline discipline, planning, performance measurement, and the core system mechanics).
Environment: the “people and reality” layer—culture, transparency, leadership behaviors, communication norms, and the conditions that determine whether a technically sound system actually works in practice.

Daniel adds a practical perspective: even when a project has all the “right” processes on paper, environmental factors can override them—and often explain why numbers look fine until they suddenly don’t. In other words, maturity issues may show up as the symptom, but environment is frequently the root cause.

The segment closes with a thoughtful take on which matters more—and when: maturity can be critical during evaluation, while environment can be decisive when it’s time to improve outcomes.

A fast, accessible introduction to IP2M METRR for listeners who want the “what it is” and “why it matters” in one sitting.