Strategic Benefits Realization

“Strategic Benefits Realization never loses focus on the ultimate goal of any organization—to achieve business benefits that endure. Craig Letavec’s common sense approach and practical guidance can be applied throughout the entire benefits realization life cycle to ensure true business value from project investments. Business and project professionals can apply the author’s business-focused techniques immediately—a must read in today’s highly competitive global marketplace.” —Marc Resch, President, Resch Group, and best-selling author This desk reference offers practical guidance for program managers, portfolio managers, and business leaders in the implementation of benefits realization management in organizations. Aligned with global standards, this book extends the knowledge contained in these standards through practical implementation guidance, examples, and additional detail created to assist organizations in implementing benefits realization management as a business practice to support the achievement of strategic business benefits. It also addresses important considerations in organizational change management, providing insights on leveraging key principles to guide successful implementation of the business change required to realize benefits through project and program work. Leveraging benefits realization management at the business portfolio level is covered as well. This book is ideal for organizations beginning to implement benefits realization management and those that wish to mature existing practices. Strategic Benefits Realization provides a practical approach to implementing benefits realization management in organizations that is aligned to PMI’sStandard for Program Management and other global standards, and is presented in the context of program and portfolio management. The guidance offered supports effective governance and execution management to deliver business value.

Benefits realization management (BRM) is a key part of governance, because it supports the strategic creation of value and provides the correct level of prioritization and executive support to the correct initiatives. Because of its relevance to the governance process, BRM has a strong influence over project success and is a link between strategic planning and strategy execution. This book guides portfolio, program, and project managers through the process of benefits realization management so they can maximize business value. It discusses why and how programs and projects are expected to enable value creation, and it explains the role of BRM in value creation. The book provides a flexible framework for: Translating business strategy drivers into expected benefits and explains the subsequent composition of a program and project portfolio that can realize expected benefits Planning the benefits realization expected from programs and projects and then making it happen Keeping programs and projects on track Reviewing and evaluating the benefits achieved or expected against the original baselines and the current expectations. To help project, program, and portfolio managers on their BRM journey, as well as to support business managers in executing business strategies, the book identifies key organizational responsibilities and roles involved in BRM practices, and it provides a simple reference that can be mapped against any organizational structure. A detailed and comprehensive case study illustrates each phase of the BRM framework as it links business strategy to project work, benefits, and business value. Each chapter ends with a series questions that provide a BRM self-assessment. The book concludes with a set of templates and detailed instructions to ensure successful deployment of BRM.

Benefits realization is the common thread that runs from organizational strategy through project deliverables that contribute benefits. Yet, according to PMI's 2018 Pulse of the Profession Report: Success in Disruptive Times, only one in three organizations report high benefits realization maturity. This practice guide provides a comprehensive look at the topic of benefits realization in of portfolio, program, and project management. It will help readers tackle this important topic and drive more successful outcomes and better strategic alignment in your organization. Inside this practice guide readers will find: standardized definitions for benefits realization, benefits realization management and associated benefits realization terms; the core principles of benefits realization; the benefits realization management life cycle from organizational mission, vision, and strategy through project deliverables and success measurement, and how it contributes to the expected benefits and value that the organization intends to realize; and a framework and guidance to help practitioners manage benefits realization in organizational project management and portfolio, program, and project management. As with all PMI standards and publications, this practice guide also aligns with our other standards including: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)®—Sixth Edition; The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition; and The Standard for Portfolio Management—Fourth Edition.

This desk reference offers practical guidance for program managers, portfolio managers, and business leaders in the implementation of benefits realization management in organizations. Aligned with global standards, this book extends the knowledge contained in these standards through practical implementation guidance, examples, and additional detail created to assist organizations in implementing benefits realization management as a business practice to support the achievement of strategic business benefits. It also addresses important considerations in organizational change management, providing insights on leveraging key principles to guide successful implementation of the business change required to realize benefits through project and program work. Leveraging benefits realization management at the business portfolio level is covered as well. This book is ideal for organizations beginning to implement benefits realization management and those that wish to mature existing practices. Strategic Benefits Realization provides a practical approach to implementing benefits realization management in organizations that is aligned to PMI's Standard for Program Management and other global standards, and is presented in the context of program and portfolio management. The guidance offered supports effective governance and execution management to deliver business value. Key Features Provides guidance for organizations seeking to implement benefits realization management principles within both project and program management environments Describes the complete benefits realization life cycle from initial business case development and benefits identification through transition and preparation for sustaining benefits Reviews organizational change management principles and supplies practical guidance for leading business change Details critical benefits realization management roles and offers advice for selecting key leaders Focuses on the establishment of key performance indicators and measurement systems to quantitatively manage benefits realization Explains the role of governance in benefits realization management and provides guidance for program management offices and governance bodies for effectively supporting benefits realization management in organizations Includes a focus on the application of benefits realization management at the portfolio level Aligned with global program management standards including the Project Management Institute's Standard ...

Projects and programmes should achieve a return on the investment made by the owner or sponsor. This return is now thought of as the benefits that accrue from the investment: some financial, others perhaps harder to define, but nonetheless just as important in justifying the investment. Making sure that they are realised, and that unanticipated benefits are maximised, is as important as the initial justification, and without that many projects have earned a bad name for project management. This publication provides comprehensive guidance on how to manage delivery of the benefits used to justify investment in change. It provides guidance for all involved in successful change delivery from senior responsible owners and directors through to portfolio, programme and project managers. The guidance is the source material for an accredited qualification from APMG-International

The effective management of project portfolios has become a growing challenge for industry, government, and other institutions. This text provides expert advice, information, concepts, and working models for all organisations wishing to improve, standardise, and optimise their project management.

One of the most difficult, yet important, questions regarding projects is "What advantages will this project create for the investors and key stakeholders?" Projects and programs should be treated as investments. This means that the focus of projects shifts from delivering within the triple constraints (time–cost–quality) towards some of the more fundamental questions: What is the purpose of this investment? What are the specific advantages expected? Are these benefits worth the investment? Implementing Project and Program Benefit Management is written for executives and practitioners within the portfolio, program, and project environment. It guides them through the important work that must be addressed as the investment progresses towards the realization of benefits. The processes discussed cover the strategic elements of benefits realization as well as the more detailed requirements, which are the domain of the program delivery teams and the operational users. Using real cases to explain complex situations, operational teams and wider groups of stakeholders, including communities affected by infrastructure projects, will be able to engage in the conversation with the sponsors and delivery teams. Covering an area of program and project management that is rapidly becoming more widely valued, this book blends theory with practical experience to present a clear process flow to managing the benefits life cycle. Best practices are defined, and pitfalls and traps are identified to enable practitioners to apply rigor and structure to this crucial discipline.

Understanding governance as it applies to portfolios, programs, and projects is growing in importance to organizations, because appropriate governance is a factor in the success or failure of strategic initiatives and portfolios, as well as an organization’s programs and projects. Implementing an effective governance framework can be challenging due to factors such as increasing business complexities, regulatory requirements, globalization, and rapid changes in technology and business environments. Many organizations do not have a consistent approach to portfolio, program, and project governance. PMI’s Governance of Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide, developed by leading experts in the field, provides guidance to organizations and practitioners on how to implement or enhance governance on portfolios, programs, and projects. This practice guide provides definitions for governance in an effort to distinguish the different levels of governance and to identify their common elements.