Duration
3 days
Overview
This course addresses the skills and knowledge required of a public sector project manager in areas that go beyond the processes, tools and documentation required to perform a project. Projects are viewed as a means of achieving strategic public sector goals. The relationship between the project and the relevant public sector organization carrying out the project is explored, including the financial, legal and cultural aspects.
The project’s interface with the private sector business environment is examined for factors that enhance or impede the chances of project success. Also explored is the challenge of keeping the project aligned with organizational objectives subject to continual change in the external environment. The definition of project success is looked at from the end-client’s standpoint and conventional project performance criteria are challenged. The end-client is defined as an individual or group in the public sector, private sector or society in general. Project success is than reinterpreted from the end-client’s (instead of technical) perspective.
Participants are also provided with the opportunity to think about and generate ideas for continuous improvement in project maturity and performance from the perspective of project, program and portfolio management.
Course Objectives
At course end, participants will have gained:
- A clearer understanding of the links between the individual project and the public sector organization carrying out the project.
- An awareness of the need to align the project with the strategic goals and policy directions of the parent public sector organization.
- Knowledge of the external private sector environment and how interactions between the public sector project and the business environment can be managed for the benefit of the project.
- A better understanding of the financial, regulatory and human factors that drive the project both internally and from the external business environment.
Module 1 Introduction
- Breaking the ice, course administration, feedback on participants’ specific public sector work environment and expectations of the course.
- Course objectives and agreement on learning approach and outcomes.
- Course overview, including the Iceberg Analogy, which explains the neglect of human issues.
Module 2 The Need for an Entrepreneurial Approach
- Identification of the internal and external environmental factors that impact and influence a public sector project.
- Analysis of the interactions between the project and the environmental factors, with a focus on the external business and market environment.
- The entrepreneurial standpoint and how it benefits public sector project professionals with specific regard to ownership and commitment.
- Actively leveraging stakeholder support from the private sector: Business entrepreneurs and corporate professionals.
Module 3 Understanding the Private Sector Business and Corporate Environment
- The regulatory and financial environments of private sector organizations.
- A comparison between the private and public sector operating environments and the implications for public sector projects.
- Market and financial influences on public sector projects, and the associated regulatory, legal and financial consequences, including project cash flows.
- Rapid change and fluctuations in the market environment and how public sector projects can address the impact with a structured and well-managed change control approach.
Module 4 Lessons Learned from the Private Sector
- Efficiencies achieved in private sector organizational structures and approaches to operational and project work.
- The emphasis placed on customer focus and how this can transform the perception of project success by the end-clients of public sector projects.
- Project value and benefits management, including the identification, analysis and implementation of public sector benefits throughout the project life cycle, ending with the handover of project deliverables to be integrated with the end-client’s environment.
- Hands-on practice will be provided with a case study exploring interactions with the external business environment throughout the project life cycle:
- Understanding the business drivers of private sector organizations.
- The anticipation and inclusion of the private sector influence and impact during the project requirements analysis and planning phase.
- Designing appropriate responses to address negative impacts and leverage support from the private sector.
Course Benefits
Participants will be able to better manage interactions between their public sector projects and the private sector, as well as society in general. The insights gained from the course will ensure a smoother stakeholder experience for the project management team throughout the life cycle of the public sector project.
Who Will Benefit
This course is designed specifically for public sector professionals at all levels. Participants are assumed to have some degree of project management experience, with a need to extend their experience beyond the public sector and could be intending to graduate to a project sponsor role in the longer term.
Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.