PPM News Index

Edition Subject Title Summary

The Major Projects team have just completed 31 Assessment Reviews on a wide range of major projects and programmes across
Government in very compressed time scales in June and July. The Major Project Review successfully achieved its aims to establish project
Sep-10 Major Projects Review Successful completion of Major Projects
delivery Review
confidence, ensure alignment with Coalition policies and to identify the potential for substantial savings to feed into the Autumn
Spending Review. The Major Projects Review has been a valuable learning experience and has now enhanced tools and techniques
available for the scrutiny and assurance of future government projects

We all recognise the importance of good communications. But what exactly is involved in achieving effective communications on
programmes and projects? Gateway reviews often highlight the need to improve the quality of communications on projects, identifying issues
Sep-10 Project Communications Lessons Learned - Communications in Major
such as lack ofGovernment
clear messages,Programmes
lack of a plan or even lack of a strategy. But what does good communications look like in practical terms for
those of us working within a major project? A new Lessons Learned report has been produced on how to employ communications more
effectively.

Earlier this year, Andrew Bragg, Chief Executive of the Association of Project Management, was interviewed by Project magazine. Andrew
Sep-10 APM and Andrew Bragg What’s the Big Idea?’: An interview with APM chief Executive Andrew Bragg
talks about the APM’s journey to Chartered status, the refresh of APM’s qualifications and the website updates

This case study outlines how the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has developed change management to enable ownership of
Sep-10 Benefits Management Delivering Operational Change through
benefitsBenefits
within the operational business areas where the change is delivered. It emphasises that benefits realisation must be an integral part
of the overall approach to change management

In our article from Government Skills, they reveal how the PPM profession is leading the way in increasing professionalism across
Government Skills government with reports on the Civil Service Learning Implementation Programme (CSLIP - formerly Learning and Development 2012 (L&D
Sep-10 workstreams PPM Profession leading the way on2012))
Learning:
aimed atArationalising
Government Skills
the supply Report
of PPM on while
courses the Civil Service
the Strategic LearningFramework
Qualifications Implementation Programme
(SQF) is a methodology (CSLIP) and
to ensure
investment in qualifications produces business benefits, value for money and fits with the broader professionalism agenda

This case study outlines how the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has developed change management to enable ownership of
Sep-10 NAO and Home Office NAO value for money scrutiny of the Home
benefits Office
within - Recommendations
the operational business areas where the change is delivered. It emphasises that benefits realisation must be an integral part
of the overall approach to change management.

Undertaking OGC Gateway™ reviews is a rewarding experience which is hard work, demanding, challenging and interesting but which
enables you to give back to colleagues by being part of an important assurance process of their projects whilst providing a wonderful
Sep-10 OGC Gateway OGC Gateway™ Reviewers: New high riskexperience.
learning reviewers Weneeded
are always keen to receive applications, particularly for high risk review team members who have the potential to
progress to being either medium or high risk team leaders. Please click here for more information, to access the new application form,
guidelines for completion and the skills profile for a OGC Gateway ™ reviewer

The long-awaited PPM community-developed Competence Assessment Tool (CAT) for project managers was successfully launched on the
PPM Competence
Feb-10 Assessment Tool (CAT) PPM Community Competence Assessment Tool (CAT) successfully launched!
10th February by Nigel Smith, Government Head of Profession for PPM. Over 60 people attended the launch of the tool which will help
departments and arms lengths bodies identify skill gaps and allocate resources more effectively.

Are PRINCE2® and the APM Body of Knowledge (BOK) separate entities or the same? A new white paper just developed has all the
Feb-10 Prince 2 & APM BoK PRINCE2® and APMP: their Relationship
answers,Explained!
revealing how each complements the other.

We are all acutely aware of examples where data has been lost in both the public and private sector. When it comes to personal data, the
Feb-10 Information Assurance Information Assurance in Government Projects
loss has the potential to affect any of us. Find out about Sir Gus O'Donnell's initiative to tackle the issue of information assurance and how
the PPM profession can get involved.

The policy to delivery challenge is one that resonates throughout government, and Defra, being primarily a policy department, has a
Feb-10 Policy to Delivery SPOTLIGHT on Defra: the Policy toparticular
Delivery Challenge
challenge with this issue. To this end, they have developed the Defra Policy Cycle, which promotes four policy themes.

As at 4/6/2010
 PPM News Index
Edition Subject Title Summary
In the fourth of our series of career profiles, Jonathan Simcock, ex-director of the Major Projects Directorate (MPD) at OGC shares his
Feb-10 Career Profiles PPM Career Profiles: how did they experiences
get that job?
of PPM in the private and public sectors.
A strong showing by the public sector helped make the APM conference an overwhelming success. Over 100 people attended from the
Nov-09 APM Conference APM Conference - Key messages from Government
Government PPM leadership community, representing over 30 different organisations, illustrating an increasing commitment to the
development of PPM within Government. Find out what some of the key messages were.

How to really improve benefits management and realisation in practice is an ongoing hot topic of debate in the PPM community, and not just
Nov-09 Benefits Management Lifting the Fog on Benefits Management
within Government. In this edition we provide three recent and complementary perspectives on ways forward on benefits management.

Nov-09 Career Profiles PPM Career Profiles: how did they In

getthethat job?
third of our series of career profiles, Charmaine de Souza of DCSF shares her experiences of PPM in Government.

Government bodies are investing increasing amounts of energy and resource into building their local PPM communities. BIS and HMRC are
Nov-09 PPM SPOTLIGHT on: Emerging Lessons among
from New
the firstDepartmental PPM including
- these are their stories, Communities
lessons they have learned along the way.

A number of decisions were made at the October PPM Council. A Roadmap providing the basis for departmental PPM capability
Nov-09 PPM Council Outcomes from the PPM Council meeting in October
improvement planning, and a Definition of the Profession were agreed, among other topics.
The role of the SRO has been described as a 'lonely furrow' but this recent event, hosted by Sir Gus O'Donnell, brought together SROs from
Nov-09 SRO Building the SRO role - an event hosted
some ofby
theSir Gus
largest O'Donnell
and most complex Government programmes to discuss common issues. This event is the first of a series that will
highlight the significance the Government places on the SRO role.

At the APM Conference workshop on Starting Projects Well, early and effective stakeholder engagement was identified by the speakers as
Stakeholder key. While MSP provides structures and methodology for this discipline, ultimately stakeholder engagement also relies heavily on
Nov-09 Management Beyond Conventional Stakeholder Management
interpersonal and influencing skills. At the workshop Moorhouse Consulting presented content from their Beyond Conventional Stakeholder
Management (PDF, 1.33MB) report and attendees were keen to take copies away.

The growing use of Starting Gate within Government organisations exemplifies its effectiveness as a pre-delivery assurance tool, and the
Nov-09 Starting Gate Starting Gate Progress - Pace makes the race
increasing recognition of its usefulness. OGC invites expressions of interest from experienced Senior Civil Servants to become accredited
reviewers.
Have you registered yet? The APM Conference on the 21st October is fast approaching and the event will be a great opportunity to hear
Sep-09 APM Conference APM Conference public and private sector speakers and to meet people from across the PPM landscape. Over 100 public sector PPM professionals and
practitioners are already booked to attend.

APM Specific Interest Find out more about the APM's Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) which provide a wide range of opportunities for people to become involved in
Sep-09 Groups (SIGs) APM Specific Interest Groups forums discussing hot topics from programme management to governance and much more.

AAP re-assesses Delivery Confidence in the light of the action plan drawn up in response to a Gateway Review, or other OGC assurance,
Assurance of Action
Sep-09 Plans Assurance of Action Plans (AAP) where Delivery Confidence has been assessed as red or amber/red. This article highlights how AAP works and how it can benefit your
project.
In the second of our series of career profiles John Sherwood, Head of the PPM Centre of Excellence at the Highways Agency, shares his
Sep-09 Career Profiles Career Profiles - John Sherwood experience of how PPM in Government has changed over the years.
This update includes an outline of the revised Risk Potential Assessment (RPA) which is currently being piloted across departments, and a
Sep-09 Gateway Gateway Update timeline for roll out. Further, the OGC Gateway™ process goes international! The Third Australasian Gateway Forum recently took place in
New Zealand and OGC was there.
Do you work in IT programme and project management? The newly launched Government IT Profession online community is free for you to
Sep-09 IT Profession IT Profession online facility join.
Joined up assurance enables programme and project teams to manage risk and improve delivery confidence. HMRC outline how they are
Sep-09 Joined Up Assurance Spotlight on HMRC and Joined-up Assurance
bringing together assurance providers and programme assurance specialists to increase knowledge and understanding of the benefits of
assurance, helping their programmes make better use of the information provided.

As at 4/6/2010
 PPM News Index
Edition Subject Title Summary
DWP have found P3M3 to be extremely useful when self assessing their Departmental PPM capability and maturity. The Commercial
Sep-09 P3M3 Spotlight on DWP and their experience ofprovides
Director P3M3 an insight into their experience, which paints a very encouraging picture.

The Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) role is pivotal in ensuring that projects deliver their expected outcomes and benefits. In recognition of
Sep-09 SRO Lessons Learned - Review of the Senior Responsible
its importance, the role isOwner Role
mandated across all UK Government projects. This new Lessons Learned provides a comprehensive review of the
role and highlights key factors which could contribute to the effectiveness of the role within Departments.

The first Government PPM Profession Conference, in London on Wednesday 21st October 2009, is being hosted by APM as part of their
Jun-09 APM Conference Government PPM Conference annual conference. It offers the opportunity to understand what the profession means for you as well as to network with private sector
delegates. Book before 31 August to benefit from an early bird price.

Whilst there is plenty of guidance available on benefits management, there is little definitive information on how widely recommended
practices have been adopted, with what results, or what lessons of general applicability have been learned. The PPM Standards Group has
Jun-09 Benefits Management Benefits Realisation Management - 'Lifting the fog'
therefore commissioned Stephen Jenner of the Cabinet Office to undertake a research programme on this topic, with the aim of ensuring
that future discussions and recommendations are based on cross-Government evidence rather than hearsay.

The Operational Efficiency Programme took a close look at achieving greater efficiency with implications for PPM professionals, especially
Jun-09 OEP Implications of the Operational Efficiency Programme
those working on IT-enabled programmes.

Jun-09 PPM Skills PPM Skills and Capability InitiativeThe

- one
PPMyear on Capability Initiative started just over a year ago.
Skills and

Jun-09 Prince2® Refreshed PRINCE2® 2009 launched

The evolved version of PRINCE2 2009, including a revolutionary new handbook aimed at Directors of projects has been launched.

Independent assurance helps manage risk and improves delivery confidence, and effective project assurance supports SROs and others
Jun-09 Project Assurance Lessons Learned - Effective Projectresponsible
Assurance for successful delivery whilst providing funders and other stakeholders with the confidence that the project can deliver to time,
budget and quality.

Jun-09 SRO The role of the SRO A great deal of research has been undertaken into the role of the SRO, how this is changing and how SROs can be better supported.

Jun-09 Starting Gate Starting Gate Starting Gate is a short early piece of assurance aimed at ensuring that when projects start they are set up to succeed.
The first of a series of career profiles is on Bob Assirati, OGC's Major Projects Director as featured in Project Magazine's Impact List in April
Apr-09 Career Profiles Career Profiles - Bob Assirati 2009.

Published in March, OGC's new publication, A Formula for Success, aims to raise awareness of the value that procurement can bring to
Apr-09 Formula for Success A Formula for Success: Procurement effectiveness
departmental inwhen
outcomes major project
used delivery
as a critical and strategic tool in successful delivery, rather than simply as an operational process. It sets
out the core principles that increase certainty of success in the delivery of Government policy through complex projects.

Since April 08 all OGC led Gateway Reviews have included a Delivery Confidence assessment, to improve the way Gateway Reviews gauge
Apr-09 Gateway Delivery Confidence in Gateway™ -the
the first
health of 12 months
projects and programmes. One year on we look back on the successful introduction of a major change to Gateway.

Apr-09 Gateway OGC Gateway™ Hub developmentsThe OGC Gateway Process continues to develop and is increasingly being adopted in new functional and geographic areas.

A Directory of commercial and departmental programme and project management related learning and development opportunities is now
Apr-09 Learning & Development PPM Learning and Development Directory now online
available online. It lists a wide range of available courses, from formal academic qualifications, through accredited training courses in
recommended standard methodologies such as PRINCE2, to training courses in elements of PPM practice.

PRINCE2®, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP™) and Management of Risk (MoR®) are among the first PPM methodologies and
Apr-09 Methodology Standards Recommended Methodology Standards
tools to be adopted as "recommended standards" by the PPM Council.

As at 4/6/2010
 PPM News Index
Edition Subject Title Summary
Close examination of failing programmes and projects often reveal fault lines present before the programme got underway. The third of
Apr-09 Policy to Programme Lessons Learned - Effective transition from
OGC's policy
Lessons to programme
Learned series looks at how learning can be used and the benefits of collaboration and external assurance applied to
ensure that policy development leads to successful programmes.

The real world of large Government projects and programmes shows enormous variability in the way project and programme boards are
Apr-09 PPM Boards Lessons Learned - Programme andstructured
ProjectandBoards
it is clear that there is no single formula. The second topic in OGC's Lessons Learned series draws out themes to help SROs
and board members make sure that the project or programme board fulfils its objective of helping the SRO to deliver the benefits.

Professional The PPM Council has recommended that PPM Professionals in Government seek membership of the Association of Project Management
Apr-09 Memberships Recommended Professional Memberships
(APM) and suggests a number of other membership bodies for specialist roles.

Assurance of Action Assurance Action Plans (AAP) is the process that re-assesses Delivery Confidence in the light of the proposed actions following an OGC
Feb-09 Plans Piloting of Assurance Action Plans Gateway Review where Delivery Confidence has been assessed as Amber Red or Red. Results from the early pilots are now available.

In July 2008, around 1.2 million pupils heard that their National Curriculum test results would be delayed. An inquiry into the delivery
Feb-09 Gateway The Sutherland Inquiry into the delivery
problemsof
ledNational Curriculum
by Lord Sutherland tests inhas
of Houndwood 2008 - the
identified learning
some forthe
lessons for OGC Gateway
application of OGC Gateway to procurement projects of
this kind.

Sir David Normington talks to Project magazine about embarking on a reform programme that recognised the importance of improving
Feb-09 PPM An insight into project management at the Home
Programme Office
and Project Management (PPM) and the capability to manage as one of its key strands.

In October Permanent Secretaries were asked to nominate Heads of Profession and Board Champions for programme and project
Feb-09 PPM Council PPM Council management in their Departments. The first PPM Council meeting of Heads of Profession took place in December, and this group is now
directing collective efforts to develop delivery skills and capability across Government.

Two new tools aim to drive success in the procurement and delivery of complex public sector IT programmes and projects. The Pre-
Feb-09 PQT / JSI New tools to support the success of key Government
Qualification Tool (PQT), IT programmes
looks and
to strengthen the projects
likelihood of achieving positive outcomes, providing better value for money for the
taxpayer. This works in conjunction with best practice guidance on establishing a Joint Statement of Intent (JSI) with prospective suppliers.

OGC have undertaken over 21 OGC Gateway Reviews on Shared Services programmes and projects, looking at integrated solutions for a
Feb-09 Shared Services Lessons from shared services initiatives
range of corporate services covering HR, finance and payroll, estates, IT and procurement. The main lessons which emerge from these
OGC Reviews are summarised in this first of a new series on Lessons Learnt.

Piloted during 2008, Starting Gate is a new initiative aimed at providing fast, independent assurance for Departments that their policy
Feb-09 Starting Gate Starting Gate - improving transition from policy
development toisproject
activity covering all the right bases and provides an early alert of any important delivery issues and risks.

On 30 October the public sector had a strong presence at the annual APM Conference. Keynote speakers included Nigel Smith, the Chief
Nov-08 APM Conference Public Sector messages from the Association for and
Executive of OGC Project Management
Government's (APM) Conference
Head of Profession for PPM, and Sir David Normington, Permanent Secretary of the Home Office.

Representatives of over 30 public sector bodies are currently involved in a cross-Government initiative to develop the skills, capability and
careers of PPM professionals and specialists. The aim is to establish a recognised and respected Project and Programme Management
Nov-08 PPM Skills New PPM Skills and Capability Initiative
Profession in Central Government that attracts, develops, and retains the best people and is valued for its contribution to effective delivery.
OGC is providing support to this community-driven initiative.

As at 4/6/2010