Ian Powney Project management techniques for implementing change

1. Project management techniques for
implementing change
David Coarsey and Ian Powney
Eaquals Members Meeting:
Florence, November 2016
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop
1

2. IAN POWNEY
• Ian Powney is Eaquals Treasurer.
• Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG
• Ian has been Director responsible for Finance and IT in a
number of sectors including language teaching, regulation,
professional institution, train operating and vending.
• He has considerable experience as the sponsor of projects
including business systems, buying and selling businesses and
property buy/rent/lease/refurbishment.
2
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

3. FEATURES OF A PROJECT: probably…
• One-off
• Need a lot of resources: expertise, people time, money
3
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

4. MAJOR PROJECTS FOR
LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
• Core operating system/database
• Teaching support system
• Other support systems (e.g. Personnel, Finance)
• Selling a business
• Buying a business
• Property: buying, rent/lease, refurbishment/construction
4
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

5. PROJECT MANAGEMENT STAGES
• Preparation
• Feasibility
• Selection
• Contracting
• Implementation preparation
• Implementation
5
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

6. PREPARATION PHASE
• Advisers, e.g.:
– Computer systems consultant (NOT supplier)
– Construction consultant (NOT contractor)
– Corporate finance adviser
– Lawyer
• Do advisers have RELEVANT expertise?
• Do we need to recruit new staff first?
• Who is the business sponsor? Enough time available?
6
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

7. FEASIBILITY PHASE
• Outline analysis of main alternatives (including do nothing)
• Are they practical?
• Resources: expertise, people, money
• Financial assessment of alternatives
• Risk assessment of alternatives
• Buy in from your owner
• How confidential is this? Wider stakeholder buy-in?
• Buy-in from your bank?
• Timescale / clashes with other activities
7
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

8. SELECTION PHASE (if you are buying a
system, business, property)
• Finding bidders
• Invitation to tender
• Managing additional information
• Update risk analysis (Probability, IMPACT)
8
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

9. SELECTION PHASE (if you are selling a
business)
• Corporate finance adviser to manage
• Need a wide list of potential buyers
• Is it really saleable?
• Prepare a prospectus
9
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

10. CONTRACTING PHASE
• Lawyer heavily involved
• Due diligence (checking the detail)
10
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

11. IMPLEMENTATION PREPARATION
STAGE
• Appoint project manager
• Sort out project team – each department
• Internal or temporary staff
• Back-fill internal staff
• Review group (senior management)
• Implementation plan
11
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

12. IMPLEMENTATION STAGE
• Update plan
• Involve all departments / users
• Testing (systems)
• Data transfer (systems)
12
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop

13. REVIEW DIFFERENT KINDS OF
PROJECTS (GROUP DISCUSSION)
• Core operating system/database
• Teaching support systems
• Other support systems (e.g. Personnel, Finance)
• Selling a business
• Buying a business
• Property: buying, rent/lease, refurbishment/construction
13
Florence Meeting November 2016 Project management workshop