Change for the better, A study on benefits management across the UK

We surveyed a broad cross section of project and programme management professionals across the UK to understand their attitudes on benefits management. The survey indicates the importance of benefits management to the success of your projects and programmes. It also emphasises the need for greater availability of skills and more targeted training to support the PPM professionalism agenda. One of the challenges evident from the survey is that benefits management goes beyond the successful delivery of projects and programmes. It is a partnership approach between those delivering the change and wider business professionals engaged in everyday business operations.

Our survey reveals that benefits management is important to all industry sectors. Surprisingly, the construction sector is one of the largest categories representing 17% of all respondents. The overall response rate was encouragingly high and this demonstrates the importance of benefits management.

Overall, our survey raises an important issue for the future of project and programme management. Traditionally the focus has been on delivery whilst the benefits are normally realised post-implementation. Much work has been undertaken in recent years to change the focus to realisation of benefits. The survey reveals that more work is needed to embed a strong culture of outcome based project, programme and change management.

I look forward to your reactions and thoughts.