Helping Stockport Metropolitan Council Implement its Improvement Plan

Stockport's Requirement

Project Management in Stockport Metropolitan Council (SMC) had been assessed by both the IDeA and the Corporate Assessment Team as needing improvement. For the Council to move from being rated as a “good” authority by the Audit Commissions’ Comprehensive Performance Assessments (CPAs) to one rated “excellent” needed a programme that addressed the shortfalls. SMC needed to respond to the issues highlighted and to detail how the Council would demonstrate their plans to attain excellence in service delivery by the introduction of improved performance measures where required.

WPM’s Involvement

SMC sought assistance from external organisations and selected WPM because of its extensive experience and flexible approach in applying PRINCE2 on behalf of its 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 top-down training programme, involving:

  • Identification of training needs
  • Executive Training – Services Heads (for small groups of up to 6)
  • PRINCE2 awareness workshops
  • Service roll-out training
  • Formal PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner

Launch strategy consultancy:

  • Advice and consultancy on the way the programme should be introduced within SMC

Project Management Handbook:

  • 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 SMC 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, SMC will be 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
  • Improve delivery of projects on time and to budget
  • Internally audit their projects against a Government approved standard

Above all SMC will deliver more effective and efficient services as economically as possible as required by CPA.

Future Plans

Since delivering the handbook WPM is:

  • Negotiating and planning additional training programmes for each of the SMC services
  • Continuing and reinforcing the relationship already established with SMC
  • Providing project assistance, advice and support

Summary

By continuously striving to improve the way it manages its programmes and projects, SMC 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, SMC will be best placed to ensure it achieves its objectives and an even higher rating when next assessed.

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