“We don’t have time for project management.” “We can’t afford the overhead of PRINCE2, so we use a ‘lite’ version.” “Our SES doesn’t want full MSP.” “We use Agile so we don’t need project management, that’s waterfall.” Over the years I have heard dozens of remarks like this, and while I usually politely smile [...]
The IPAA ACT 2016 conference took place on Thursday 10th November, and it was a superb event. Congratulations to IPAA, the speakers and everyone involved. The conference was filmed and video content is now available online, including a series of short and easily watchable highlights packages from each session and complete transcripts. These are [...]
Last month in my blog I advocated a change of name for The Digital Transformation Office (DTO), and proposed it should be called The Government Transformation Office. Well, it got its name change, though not the one I proposed – the DTO is to become The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA). So what’s new and [...]
The Digital Transformation Office (DTO) is only 15 months old. An infant. It’s tough being a new kid. Especially when you’re little. The big kids push you around. Sometimes you just want to flee back home. But there comes a time when little kids need to grow up. Which begs the question, is it [...]
While SES officers are critical to effective programme management or project management, the engine room is the community of APS practitioners who have a passion for making these disciplines cornerstones of high quality policy implementation. I was therefore delighted to see the Departments of Finance and Prime Minister and Cabinet have launched a renewed [...]
In my last blog I wrote about the one simple thing most SES officers get wrong with programmes and projects: they don’t think about programmes and projects as organisations. This observation generated quite a lot of interest, and so this month I’d thought I’d share with you what happens when SES officers are given [...]
There is one simple thing most SES officers get wrong with programmes and projects, and it is this: they think about them the wrong way. Common Misconceptions Whenever I mention to that I specialise in programme and project management to senior executives, it is always interesting to see what kind of responses I get. [...]
To The Fourth of July (excerpt from Poem by Swami Vivekananda) Behold, the dark clouds melt away, That gathered thick at night, and hung So like a gloomy pall above the earth! Before thy magic touch, the world Awakes. The birds in chorus sing. The flowers raise their star-like crowns— Dew-set, and wave thee [...]
I was delighted to attend the Prime Ministers address to the APS in the Great Hall of Parliament House last week, and before I say anything else I must congratulate IPAA for arranging such a tremendous event. It is impressive that over 13 secretaries and heads of agencies attended. In his address the PM [...]
I am pleased to have been a contributor to the report “Learning from Failure”1 by Professor Peter Shergold AC, which was published in early February 2016. On page one of the report he says: “Leadership begins with finding the courage to say, ‘I accept personal responsibility for contributing to the failure to which I [...]
