Project Planning and Management
On a large scale project where do you start?
With so many moving parts to consider in a large scale change project it can be difficult to know where to begin. How do you ensure the project will meet its objectives and finish on time and within scope and budget?
We can help you
Making sense of all the moving parts, identifying multiple work streams, managing many stakeholders, and putting in place a governance strategy for the project can take you away from the time you need for decision making.
Our Project Management team have a wealth of experience and knowledge of both strategic planning and ongoing proactive management of large scale change exercises. Most importantly they tailor the scale of their involvement to suit your needs and scope, leaving your time free to focus on what is most important to you.
Strategic project planning
Transforming your goal into a strategic plan of action needs careful deliberation. That’s where we can help.
Our Project Managers are highly experienced in all elements of strategic setup of large scale projects of all shapes and sizes.
During the initial stages we will work with you and other key stakeholders to set up an appropriate process and structure for the project. This includes tasks such as confirming objectives and measures, identify key workstreams and high level sub-tasks, stakeholder engagement planning, setting timelines and milestones, agreeing interactions, and risk analysis.
Tailored approach
The Project Manager will set up an appropriate governance structure (e.g. steering groups, working groups etc.) and relevant supporting documentation such as project plans, action logs and risk registers – tailoring the approach to suit what works best for you.
A key output of this first stage is an overview of your project in one page – a key document we prepare at the outset of every project which is a snapshot of your projects workstreams, interactions and milestones at a high level. This can be a very powerful tool, helping those involved understand the process, giving clarity to timelines and an appreciation of the complexity and objectives.
A goal without a plan is just a wish
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
French Writer (1900-1944)
Proactive management
Proactively managing and tracking progress ensures a project does not lose traction (particularly crucial in projects which run for several months or even years).
One of the main challenges of project management is the sheer volume of information that flows between all the parties involved, and how that flow of information can affect other workstreams. On a large scale project it’s easy to see where information could be lost, or where someone could be unaware of the impact of a changing situation on other workstreams.
Effective ongoing project management
Putting an independent Project Manager in place won’t stop the flow of information – instead by being a central conduit through which the information flows our Project Manager will be fully aware of all the moving parts of the project and is therefore best placed to assess the impact of any changes and flag any issues to ensure key objectives are still achieved.
Our experienced team proactively control the ongoing process, managing governance sessions and workstreams, tracking actions, monitoring risks, engaging with stakeholders, and managing issues and escalating them as and when required. They also control all project documentation ensuring the client and relevant sponsors have complete transparency of process and can concentrate on making decisions safe in the knowledge that the project is being effectively controlled.
Providing peace of mind
How we can help
We can help trustees plan an approach for their scheme changes that engages with all parties, balancing regulatory requirements with the needs of the members. We give you the control you need throughout, providing you with the peace of mind to focus on key decision making, in the knowledge that the project will meet its objectives.
Providing expert insight
How we can help
We ensure employers have the support needed at all stages of the project management process, from instigation to successful completion. Providing an expert insight, our team will be on-hand to help you navigate the planning process for your project, including achieving the necessary buy-in you need on your objectives, budgets, workstreams and timelines through a proper and realistic scoping process. Once this is done we will ensure an appropriate governance structure and reporting methodology is in place.
Proactive support
How we can help
We will work with you to plan and manage your project by identifying key workstreams, dependencies and risks and map out an appropriate plan of action for governance and implementation. Our team will help with strategic planning and give you the proactive support and the materials to effectively monitor and report on progress, ensuring you meet your original objectives.
Proactive support
How we can help
We will provide support from project beginning to end, helping your project to reach a successful completion. Our team will help you plan your implementation process and achieve the necessary buy-in to your objectives, budgets, workstreams and timelines. Once completed we will make sure an appropriate ongoing governance structure and reporting methodology is established, ensuring no progress is lost.
Aligning Benefits and Reward
With the introduction of the National Living Wage in April 2016 staff costs were set to increase significantly for employers across all sectors. With over 70,000 employees Marks & Spencer was no exception and during 2015 was prompted to carry out a review of their benefits and rewards in advance of the looming deadline.
The review identified significant variations of benefits across different groups employees and across locations. In addition the defined benefit pension scheme had been closed to new joiners since 2002, with new starters since then joining the defined contribution scheme. This highlighted significant disparity of benefits across the workforce.
Two key objectives for the businesses ongoing success were identified - remaining competitive as an employer, and ensuring fair and consistent reward for all employees. As a result M&S embarked on a project to review and align all rewards and benefits by April 2017.
As existing corporate advisors, our actuarial team were able to assist on the pension elements of the change, whilst the Project Management team worked directly M&S team to strategically plan, and subsequently manage the project.
This was a high profile and complex project and it was really important that our employees had confidence in us throughout this period of change; the professional approach, expertise and commitment from Hymans throughout ensured this was the case
Steve Rowe - Chief Executive, Marks & Spencer