Organising for Change

With change now a constant in most commercial and public service organisations, the challenge for directors and managers is to implement that change in a manner that ensures continued business-as-usual, maintains profitability and stakeholder value and achieves the anticipated benefits. Inevitably, such change reaches into every corner of the organisation, requiring a range of activities, some embodied within discreet projects.

In recent years, the discipline of Programme Management has been introduced into the arena of strategic change. It provides structure and cohesion, enabling all activities (including a portfolio of inter-related projects) to be planned and controlled in a co-ordinated manner, often over many months or years and involving a substantial level of cost and resources.

Briefing Content

This briefing will:

• review the latest Best Practice guidance for the governance and management of programmes and projects;
• consider the nature and function of programmes and projects and how they inter-relate;
• explain how a programme should initiated and constructed, including:
• the primacy of the business case
• the role of the programme manager
• the statement that expresses the vision of the required end-state
• the business models, technologies, people profiles, etc. required to realise the capabilities of that end-state
• the benefits expected of the programme and a plan for measuring their attainment
• the policies and standards to be applied throughout the programme
• determine the steps needed so as to minimise service disruption as the change programme unfolds;
• suggest how risk (uncertainty) should be managed at both programme and project level;
• examine techniques for alignment of the organisational culture with the strategic objectives, including how to “take the people with us”.

Delegate Profile

The briefing is ideal for anyone with responsibility for implementing change. This could mean strategic and/or operational management, including directors, senior managers and public officers. It is also an ideal introduction for those moving into a Change Management or Programme Management role.

Briefing Length

This briefing is ideally run over one day, but can be condensed to half a day when required.