A manifesto for Project Management

Iain Pritchard - Adapta Consulting

and

Ian Williamson - UNICEF UK

The agenda for this session

• Welcome

• Project management in the voluntary sector(statistics, case studies and analysis)

• Some discussion

• A manifesto for project management(the ambition to do better)

• Some more discussion

• Close

Iain Pritchard

Ian Williamson

Iain PritchardAdapta Consulting

Project Management in the Voluntary Sector

Some project statistics

Some more project statistics

Two short anecdotes

• Case study 1 – a large national charity

• Case study 2 – a medium-sized membership organisation

Why do software projects go wrong?

Rarely because:• The technology is wrong• Software is faulty• The supplier is evil• The supplier is incompetent• The supplier is too small• The contract is weak• There wasn’t enough rigorous

methodology

Actually because• Defining benefits is difficult• Decision-making in charities is complex

and slow• Most of us are too busy with business

as usual• Its hard to face the truth sometimes• People – not methodologies – are what

achieve success

Some discussion

Thinking about projects in your organisation, what do notice about:

– The projects that are more successful?

– The projects that are less successful?

Ian WilliamsonUNICEF UK

A manifesto for project management

When it goes wrong

Manifesto 11. Carry out projects to introduce beneficial change2. Only do projects which have an appropriate sponsor and supportive, decisive governance3. Understand and commit the skills and resources required4. Appreciate and support people as our most important project resource

Manifesto 25. Give projects the same respect as business as usual6. Value project progress over particular tools or techniques7. Seek out the truth, even when uncomfortable8. Practise transparent communication throughout

DiscussionThinking about projects in your organisation:

– How relevant would the manifesto be?

– What do you think your colleagues would say about the principles?

Some more discussion…

Join usTwitter:

Ian Williamson@betteriser

Iain Pritchard@Iain_Pritchard

#ProjectsManifesto

LinkedIn Group:

“Charity Projects Manifesto”

About Adapta Consulting

Adapta is:

• A specialist information systems consultancy• We only work with membership organisations, charities, associations,

trusts and others in the NfP sector• We are completely supplier-independent• Our consultants have held senior positions in a broad range of

different organisations• Our advice and guidance is based on practical experience gained over

many years.

For more information, contact us at:

2 Old College Court, 29 Priory Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0DE

020 7250 4788help@adaptaconsulting.co.ukwww.adaptaconsulting.co.uk

Thank you for taking part