Benefits Management Framework Sample Chapter
Benefits Management Framework Sample Chapter
Figures vii
Tables viii
Acknowledgements and thanks ix
Introduction x
1 Why do we want a benefits management framework? 1
1.1 What a benefits management framework is not 2
1.2 What are benefits? 3
1.3 Benefits management 4
1.4 What is the difference between benefits realisation and
benefits management? 8
1.5 Who is responsible for benefits management? 9
2 Purpose of a benefits management framework 13
2.1 Stakeholder perspectives 13
2.2 Being proactive 15
2.3 Why a framework? A portfolio approach 16
2.4 The benefits of increased benefits management capability 19
2.5 A benefits dashboard 21
2.6 Combining dis-benefits 22
3 The components of a benefits management framework 23
3.1 Defining the strategic objectives 23
3.2 How the strategic objectives are measured and reported 25
3.3 Categorising benefits in the portfolio 25
3.4 A template for benefit profiles and benefits register 26
3.5 Benefits realisation plan (per project) 28
3.6 Benefits management strategy per project 29
3.7 Portfolio of projects 30
4 Implementing a benefits management framework 34
4.1 Specify, develop, implement, sustain 34
4.2 Higher-level benefits management frameworks 35
4.3 Life cycle stages: bottom-up, or top-down 36
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vii
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A book of this nature stands on the shoulders of the giants who have gone before.
This work, defining a new term in benefits management, relies heavily on the
concepts and thought leadership of the grandfather of benefits management,
John Thorp.
The definition of benefits management framework has been hard won.
Benefits management needs to be approached differently when applied right
across a portfolio. Using a framework brings clarity and rigour, but also puts the
benefits management function at the mercy of many other functions within an
organisation – functions outside of the project management office. That hasn’t
sat well with project managers, who are by nature keen to be in control.
We would like to thank the people who have contributed so much to the
discussions and the development of this concept and the writing of this book, in
particular John Thorp, Tanya Durlen, Neil White and the committee and active
volunteers of APM’s Benefits and Value Specific Interest Group (SIG).
And we hope practitioners find it a clear explanation and easy to apply in
practice.
ix
the processes required for realisation of benefits and creation and sustainment
of value.
n For those with a responsibility for strategy, including business analysts
and corporate and strategic planners, this guide will give a good
overview of what organisational capability is required to help deliver that
strategy.
xi
Why do we want a
benefits management
framework?
Purpose of a benefits
management framework
13
Figure 2.1 projects within a portfolio should contribute, through their project
benefits, to the overall strategic objectives of the organisation. In real life a
mapping may not be as simple as this.
A well-designed solution can deliver all of these (and many more for
other stakeholders). Some perspectives can seem irreconcilable, for example
lower price versus higher profit. A framework helps to put the individual
compromises into perspective and helps all parties reach compromises that are
acceptable (Figure 2.2).
14
The components of a
benefits management
framework
In the previous chapters, the authors have introduced the benefits management
framework as a concept, given an overview of some of the terms used, and
detailed the purpose of the framework. In this chapter, the component parts of a
benefits management framework are explained in more depth.
A framework combines at least two functions:
23
of each strategic objective, so that individual benefits from projects can be aligned
and realisation of benefits can be quantified as they contribute to a strategic
objective.
An example: the chairman’s statement in the annual report of a hospital may
say that it is building the new oncology wing (change); but it often won’t say that
the board closely monitors length of stay and successful discharge to keep bed
occupancy below 98 per cent (BAU). The board and senior management team of
an organisation will typically be responsible for all strategic objectives, whether
explicit (in the chairman’s statement) or implicit.
Each strategic objective is dependent on certain things being in place
and makes a contribution to one or more of the stakeholders. The above example
of the oncology wing is illustrated in Table 3.1:
Table 3.1 Example organisation KPIs (for change and for business-as-usual)
24
Implementing a benefits
management framework
34
35
Figure 5.1 How benefits management interfaces with everything else going on
50
order to ensure the success of the benefits management framework. All of these
performance management factors will have a direct or indirect influence on the
achievability of the desired business benefits and should be managed with a
benefits mindset.
Each of these connections gives rise to a question, regarding how the relevant
process impacts benefits management, and how benefits management impacts
the process:
n What is the potential impact of risks on the desired benefits (not just time, cost
or quality impact)?
n What monitoring, control mechanisms, and measures need to be put in place
less) benefits realisation and will it delay it? How will change be controlled and
impact on benefits be assessed?
n How does either good or poor leadership contribute towards benefits
communities? Do the stakeholders care? Are they interested? Has the benefits
manager identified and planned all the deliverables that will be needed for
them to effectively exploit the benefits – e.g. communications, user testing,
training?
n Is there a structured approach to change management in the organisation?
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Conclusion
As you will have gathered from this guide, there is a lot more to creating a benefits
management capability at an organisational level than producing benefits
management deliverables for one or two isolated projects or programmes.
Sponsorship is paramount, as is buy-in from the rest of the executive
committee, particularly the investment committee.
Once the benefits manager has assessed the ‘as is’ situation and agreed
the ‘to be’ target levels of benefits management maturity with the benefits
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Italicised terms that are not included in the APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition
glossary are given below, and describe the context in which they are meant in this
guide:
62
The guide has mentioned benefits management and collating reports. In this
appendix, the authors offer further reading.
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