Improving Project Management Capability & Performance for Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Kirklees' Requirement

Kirklees Metropolitan Council (KMC), while being rated overall as Excellent in the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), instigated a plan for ensuring that its initiatives, strategies, change programmes and associated projects were delivered effectively. Key to the plan was their adoption of the PRINCE2 project management method authority-wide. In order to assist their staff in applying the method, KMC decided to produce a project management manual as a complement to a training programme for those involved in project activities. They needed an independent and impartial approach that would utilise the formal methods laid down by PRINCE2 and customise them to their specific requirements. This was necessary because staff with widely varying levels of experience and knowledge of project management would use the handbook to support a diverse range of project types and sizes.

WPM’s Involvement

KMC sought assistance from external organisations and selected WPM because of its extensive experience in pragmatically applying PRINCE2 on behalf of clients. WPM was also chosen because of the commitment it has shown to helping the public sector carry out Government recommendations on the implementation of business change programmes.

WPM Delivered

A handbook comprising 5 booklets:

  • Booklet 1 - essential reading for all those involved in projects of any size and type
  • Booklets 2-4 - how to manage each of the three project type classifications that KMC had defined (small, medium and large)
  • Booklet 5 - reference volume

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Benefits

By working to the same standard across all projects, irrespective of the service that commissioned it, KMC was able to:

  • Run their programme projects with less ‘fire-fighting’, less re-work, less hassle, less stress – and fewer costs
  • Share lessons learned and apply them across all services’ projects
  • Ensure that all staff use the same project language
  • Internally audit their projects against a Government approved standard

Above all KMC was able to deliver more effective and efficient services as economically as possible as required by CPA.

Additional Professional Services Delivered

Since delivering the handbook WPM has:

  • Trained key KMC project management staff in PRINCE2
  • Attended KMC’s Programme Board meetings in an advisory capacity
  • Provided a Launch Planner to smooth the introduction of the handbook
  • Conducted an audit on KMC’s Education Programme

Future Plans

A Programme Management Handbook, based on Managing Successful Programmes, for the KMC Executive Committee.

Summary

By continuously striving to improve the way it manages its programmes and projects, KMC aims to provide measurable benefits in terms of:

  • Better run services
  • Priorities
  • Cost savings
  • Staff morale

By working with an organisation that not only understands programme and project management, but also the particular needs of Local Government, KMC will be best placed to ensure it achieves its objectives and an even higher rating when next assessed.

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