What’s Different

Project Management

in the Public Sector

John Alley, Director PMO, McMaster PSPMF Fall/2004

Difference

• is the difference– in kind?– in degree?

• differences that lead to different actions

What’s Different?

• governance

• politics

• financial constraint

• cost benefit

• acquisition

What’s Different?

• governance

• politics

• financial constraint

• cost benefit

• acquisition

So What?

Governance

What’s different?• consensus decision

making

• accountability for benefits

So What?• plan for decision time• facilitation skills

• sponsor education• clear business case

with measurable goals

Politics

What’s different?• politicians as

stakeholders

• risk of change in direction

So What?• stakeholder analysis

and consultation

• shorter projects• clear charter• scope control• risk management

Financial Constraint

What’s different?• limited funds

• risk of triple-constrained project

So What?• select top ranked

projects

• education on law of project management

• manage expectations• scope control and

flexibility

Cost Benefit

What’s different?• most benefits are

intangible

• non-revenue projects

So What?• measure the

intangible• measure on other

dimensions

• commitment to delivering cost savings

Acquisitions

What’s different?• MFP

• Approval process

So What?• allow time to follow

policy• commitment to open

processes

• allow time for approvals

• dependencies

What to do about the differences? Governance

• business case – with measurable goals – measure the intangible– measure on other dimensions – select top ranked projects– shorter projects

• sponsor education– their roles and responsibilities– the law of project management– commitment to delivering cost savings

What to do about the differences? PM Skills

• plan for – time for decisions – time for approvals– time to follow policy– dependencies

• facilitation skills• stakeholder analysis and consultation• clear charter• manage expectations• scope control and flexibility• commitment to open processes• manage risk

Questions?

Resources• http://www.computerweekly.com/Article22868.htm#• http://www1.oecd.org/puma/Risk/Canada.pdf• http://www.publictechnology.net/print.php?sid=1269• Courses

– http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp/chsl.cfm– http://citsolutions.cit.act.edu.au/courses/career/pseta/4960.php– http://www.iqpc.com/iowa-robot/singlecell.html?

topic=235&event=5772– http://www.mun.ca/cmd/courses/publicsector/

PSLMDPBrochure.pdf