Project Reviews
Project Audit
Cost or Schedule Review
Stage Gate Reviews
Projects require or benefit from audits for many reasons. Sometimes, it is a requirement of a regulatory framework or compliance process, either internally or externally mandated. Sometimes it is because a performance gap has been identified and the reasons behind it are sought. Or there may be other reasons. As trained auditors, Cephas can help in several ways. These include performing the audit; assisting teams to prepare for audit; assisting teams to respond to audit and assisting teams to formulate a plan for tackling audit actions and observations. Cephas has been on both sides of the auditor’s table and so is well placed to assist organisations at this stage.
Stage Gate Reviews
Cost or Schedule Review
Stage Gate Reviews
At key stages of a project’s lifecycle, transitions will occur. It is at these times, that a readiness or a gate review is appropriate. These reviews will determine whether the project is fit to proceed to the next stage. For some organisations, a formal process exists (e.g. a stage gate process) where a project must pass a formal review before proceeding to the next stage. Examples might be from detailed design to execution or concept to option selection. However, even beyond this, there is sometimes a need to perform a readiness review, for example, when a given work package is commissioned or tested. Cephas can assist by facilitating or performing a review and collating and reporting results, as well as ensuring that actions arising are closed out.
Cost or Schedule Review
Cost or Schedule Review
Cost or Schedule Review
Any project that does not deliver its cost goals risks being counted a failure. From the initial stages of fund planning, estimating and budgeting, right through to final cost reconciliation, Cephas can assist with cost management. Regular project cost reporting, forecasting and estimating can be undertaken, and analysis of cost can be carried out.
Lateness is a scourge of project delivery, but it does not have to be so. Following a similar outlook to cost management, schedule planning is a well understood discipline and many tools and techniques exist. Cephas can help with schedule analysis, planning, reporting and forecasting.
Risk Review
Quality Review
Cost or Schedule Review
Key to project success is the management of risk. If the risk profile is not known, then they cannot be handled, and the project is an hostage to fortune. From the earliest risk identification session (at concept, or even earlier) to the final closeout of risk, reviews can be held. These may be one-off sessions, or regular reviews to ensure that risks are being managed in real-time.
Quality Review
Quality Review
Quality Review
Often the implied fourth corner of the “iron triangle”, delivering to the required quality is essential to success. From articulating the quality requirements, to assistance with developing quality plans, Cephas can help to ensure that this vital aspect of project delivery is covered.
Process Review
Quality Review
Quality Review
PMI’s report “The High Cost of Low Performance 2014” notes that 70% of strategic initiatives are successful for organisations with high process maturity. This means that the right project processes drastically improve the chances of success. Cephas can review existing process for suitability, can audit compliance to these processes, or can recommend a set of appropriate processes for an organisation. This will be appropriate to the enterprise and take into account the nature of any given organisation and the projects that it undertakes.
Business Case Review
Start Up or Close Out Review
Start Up or Close Out Review
For many reasons, a robust business case is a key building block of project success. Without one, the project is unlikely to be walking on solid ground. KPMG’s “Project Management Survey Report 2013” report shows that two thirds of organisations do not attempt to measure project benefits, and only one third always prepare a business case. Cephas can review a project’s business case and make recommendations for improvement, or assist project personnel with formulating one.
Start Up or Close Out Review
Start Up or Close Out Review
Start Up or Close Out Review
Perhaps the key point at which project success or failure is determined, the project start up conditions can set the course of the project for its entire life. If all of the key elements, communications, relationships are not in place (or at least planned), the project can usually only avoid failure by good fortune or extraordinary effort. Cephas can assist by initiating and performing a review and by formulating key recommendations for action to ensure that the chances of success are maximised.
Closeout review is often the poor relation of the project lifecycle, but it is essential that the project is properly closed out. Not doing so can result in deliverables being left incomplete, in costs and material being locked up in a project, and not released back to the business, in risk being retained and in lessons being forgotten. Cephas can facilitate or perform a review that highlights the remaining elements of a project, thus helping to avoid some of the risks mentioned above.
Competence Review
Start Up or Close Out Review
Competence Review
Having the right competencies and mix of skills is vital for any project team. Without them, there is little chance of success. Working to the APM’s Competence Framework, Cephas can construct and analyse the profile of a team’s competence, and make recommendations for improvement.