Computer Weekly - Define roles and benefits early for project success
Graham Smith, Vice President, AppLabs comments on defining programme value up front and not at the end
July 6, 2007
In response to your article "Metrics key to IT success, say MPs", I agree that part of an essential programme of change is the need for metrics during the delivery of the programme and after implementation. However, the article identified that post project reviews and senior responsible owners are key to ensuring value from government IT programmes.
Leaving the realisation of benefits until post project reviews and not defining the role of the senior responsible owner is a big reason that 67% of government IT projects fail. Building a strong business case for a senior responsible owner and regularly reviewing this as part of a structured quality management process is critical. Not enough programmes put sufficient emphasis on the role of the senior responsible owner and the delivery of benefits associated with the programme.
A senior responsible owner is the individual with a baseball bat to make things happen and a pot of money to deliver a return on investment. The programme manager is the conduit to deliver the senior responsible owner's dreams and implement the right governance processes. Without clearly defined roles and relationships or sufficient measurement of the return on investment, the programme is a failure waiting to happen.
What our clients say
"The people at AppLabs realize that what we need is more than just testing expertise. It is an organization we can work with which understands our business, the way we work and can provide a service that adds value to our organization."
Pauline Smith
Test Manager, National Australia Group