How can sponsors and SROs be sure that their projects or programme will actually create business value? 

Matt Williams argues that projects and programme need to sit within an investment portfolio aligned with organisational goals and objectives if business value is to be created. Selecting a balanced portfolio of initiatives that contribute to an organization’s goals requires each initiative to have a realistic, validated business case.

Matt Williams is the Managing Director of Connexion Systems, Australia; a provider of innovative services and systems that enable project organizations to maximize business value generated from portfolios of capital investments.

Matt is a regular speaker at PMI, AIPM (Australia) and APM (UK) events on the topic of Benefits-led Portfolio Management.

McKinsey [2007] on the perspectives on strategic planning of 30 CEOs of major international companies concluded There is an almost mystical hope that something good will come out of it.” 

Dr. Phil Driver says ‘Few strategies achieve their desired impacts and the same applies to many projects – which simply do not lead to the intended ‘Benefits.’  Why?  Because ‘Uses’ are not well enough understood and users are insufficiently engaged. 

Phil explains that there are many disconnects between; strategy, project management, implementation and benefits. He does not believe that projects can realise benefits. Phil facilitates multi-stakeholder strategy development, validation and implementation processes in New Zealand and the UK.  He works in both the public and private sectors, especially in large-scale complex strategic environments.

Merron Simpson is founding director of New Realities Limited and UK’s Lead on OpenStrategies and a Certified Facilitator/Practitioner. Merron will be on hand to provide the UK perspective and answer questions.