The Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (GAPPS), formerly known as the Global Performance Standards for Project Management Personnel Initiative, is a volunteer organisation that provides a forum for stakeholders from differing systems, backgrounds, and operating contexts to work together to create performance based frameworks and standards that address the needs of the global project management community.

Starting in the mid 1990s, people interested in the development of global project management standards began meeting formally and informally during various project management conferences. In 1999, the International Project Management Association initiated a series of Global Working Parties, including one focused on Standards. This Working Party met on a number of occasions, usually associated with project management conferences, and interested people from many countries were involved. A number of initiatives were identified, formulated and tracked. One of these was the opportunity for development of global performance based standards for project personnel that would complement existing knowledge based standards (such as PMI’s A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, APM’s Body of Knowledge, IPMA’s International Competence Baseline, and Japan’s Guidebook for Project and Program Management for Enterprise Innovation) and provide a basis for transferability and mutual recognition of project management qualifications.

The development of global performance based standards for project managers, as a joint initiative of governments, professional associations, and corporations, provides an opportunity to:

• Respond directly to the expressed needs of industry.
• Enhance the profile and effectiveness of project management throughout the project management community, both globally and locally.
• Increase support for project management as a field of practice and as an emerging profession.
• Enhance the value and recognition of the performance based standards approach.

The initiative was progressed by development and signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to guide cooperation among interested parties. A Global Steering Committee meeting was held in London in August 2002. The meeting was attended by representatives of signatories to the MOUs plus industry representatives and was hosted by the Services SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) of South Africa. The initiative initially functioned under the name Global Performance Based Standards for Project Management Personnel.

The Global Steering Committee decided to fund the initiative by asking each supporting organisation (standards/qualifications organisations, professional associations, educational institutions, and corporations) to become a financial subscriber to cover research, preparation of materials, maintenance of the global standards website, and administrative support. In addition, the Global Steering Committee decided that the initial focus should be on the development of performance based competency standards for project managers. It was agreed that the initiative would be progressed through Working Sessions attended by representatives of subscribing organisations.

Organisations that have subscribed to the initiative include: