One of the more important disciplines in management generally and project management in particular, planning is, by popular demand CITI’s theme for the coming quarter.
Like planning itself our exploration of this subject is a multiple perspective driven approach. The plan, as we shall see, is not as important as the process that generates it. Few, if any, plans survive the project intact and their purpose is to help facilitate the management of the project, which as a change vehicle itself, can prove susceptible to change – something we’ve all experienced!
To this end we will follow an arc of development starting with the purpose of a planning for control perspective, through the discipline of product-based planning (an approach that confers real advantages other than the early clarification and stabilisation of our approach). Our third perspective will be the creation of an integrated plan; one that represents several different perspectives on the project and what’s important in its delivery. We’ll conclude our journey with change-capable planning and how the multiple perspectives created in our product-based plan allow us to assimilate and flex to maintain purpose and control as the project responds to its external environment.
You might think that in this fast paced, constantly progressing world we live, running projects effectively and efficiently would be a consistent, process oriented and straight-forward exercise. However, this, as most project professionals will tell you is not the reality. Projects are complex, need clarity of thought from the beginning, clarity of vision and purpose, planning, governance, monitoring and controls, assessment of risk, understanding of benefits and skilled leadership and management to be successful.
No matter what industry or type of organisation, people are running projects all the time. Developing capability, introducing a consistent understanding of how projects should be managed and run, thinking about sponsorship, writing and interpreting business cases, planning, roles and responsibilities, understanding accountability and the importance of stakeholder management or estimating. The progress that can be made by understanding project practices, becoming more adept at managing projects and programmes, adopting consistent ways of working can really ensure success for organisations.
CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT
CITI develops and evolves the project, programme and portfolio management capability and talent available to organisations to deliver change. We are a single destination for clients who want to improve their organisational capability development in order to deliver change more successfully.
CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Our team of consultants are highly qualified to help organisations successfully manage transformation programmes, complex projects and the change impacts that result. Indeed, within our project management consultancy they have all been in senior roles across diverse organisations, managing change through programmes and projects.
TRAINING COURSES
Our management training courses include – masterclasses, accredited / qualification-based training courses and CITI’s own Beyond Method learning events. All are specifically designed to improve the leadership skills, capability and talent within those organisations that depend upon programmes and projects to thrive, change and innovate.
CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
With the promise of more predictable delivery and benefits achievement, having the right people in the right place at the right time is the key to success. This involves recognising, and then realising, the full potential of individuals and teams by using our project management capability assessment framework services.
WHY CHOOSE CITI
CITI Limited is one of the first, and longest standing, niche consultancies that has led the charge in developing change and project management thinking and essential supporting tools. These are consistently used to assist very capable and intelligent people within a variety of sectors (including IT, communications, financial services, government, and the infrastructure sector), who are undisputed experts in their own disciplines, but need understanding of the project world and how to successfully implement change and new ideas both effectively and efficiently.
Nick Dobson, Principal Consultant
Nick is a highly experienced consultant in project and programme management and the sponsorship of such initiatives.
A practitioner, with over 25 years of experience, he has been deeply involved in projects, throughout the lifecycle, as well as discharging operational management functions in a variety of sectors. Nick can be contacted via email at NDobson@citi.co.uk
