Case study
Client: A London Borough
Sector: Local Government
Benefits Experienced by the Client:
Improved Project Management Capability
- Increased levels of project management understanding throughout the organisation.
- Increased adoption of the London Borough’s project management methodology, leading to more effective project management.
In addition to the skills and abilities developed in the staff there was an increased understanding and awareness of project management in senior management which has enabled London Borough to develop a sophisticated approach to programme management.
Strategic Objective:
Continuous Improvement in Project Management
Having been recognised as one of the top 10 most improved Councils in the country (by the Audit Commission in December 2003) the London Borough has an on-going commitment to continuous improvement in every aspect of service delivery.
The council had developed its own project management methodology, based on PRINCE2, and wanted practical training that would combine relevant hard and soft skills to provide an effective introduction to project management for people involved in projects.
The Solution Provided:
Introduction to Project Management
The Introduction to Project Management 1 day course was developed to provide an understanding of projects and the key principles of project management based on the client’s updated methodology. It provided training on the client’s project management methodology, key skills needed by project teams and practical tips for successful project management.
The project examples used throughout the training and pre-course work were based on a project scenario specifically developed to reflect the working environment in the London Borough.
To support effective evaluation of the benefits realised from the training a three stage process was implemented:
- Delegates completed a pre course quiz, which established a baseline for their current project management knowledge
- A post course quiz was taken to establish the increase in delegates’ understanding and competence
- A post course review workshop was developed (to be held approximately 3 months after training) which enables delegates to discuss what they are doing differently as a result of the training and provides the organisation with an evaluation of the lasting impact of the training.
Working together:
The client’s objective as a project
The chance to work with this London Borough came through an open tender for Project Management training.
During meetings with the client they explained the impact of the previous training and established the requirements for this next round of training, based on the client’s project management methodology. The project scenario for the training was agreed, as well as the style of training and the approach for evaluation.
The London Borough’s Learning and Development team identified the training needs of their staff and booked courses in tranches, with the training delivered in venues sourced by the client.
The Delegate Experience
“A very good introduction to project management.”
“This will help me implement new developments in a more structured way.”
[I am going to] “modify and update the business case for project that I am doing and forward periodic highlight reports”
The Maven Project Team
Susan Tuttle’s programme and project management skills, developed in dynamic environments in various industries, enables her to develop interactive training courses that utilise experience from delegates' own working environments.
Graham Devine brings 30 years experience in project and programme management including training in the public sector and NHS trusts.
The Next Chapter:
Continuous Improvement
Delivering successful projects and ensuring effective use of resources are an ongoing focus in the London Borough and the majority of delegates have continued their project management learning through in-house training and development.
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