In our next instalment of ‘trainer insight’. Lead trainer for SPOCE Project Management Harley Richards lets us in on a little known secret…the Project Board is important!
Read what he has to say about who gets a seat at this table and what it is they are meant to be doing when they get there…
I feel there is a severe lack of focus on project boards and their importance. I spend my weeks talking to project managers from all different backgrounds, organizations and industries, and a vast number of these PMs agree that the board members are either unsure what their roles are, or how much involvement they should have in the project. Lets clear this up…
Who is on the 'Project Board?'
The board represents three different interests: Business, User and Supplier. Your Project Sponsor / Executive will be representing the business background controlling the purse strings. A Senior User (or perhaps a few Senior Users) will be there to represent user interests defining exactly what the project outputs need to be and what they should do. The Senior Supplier (or once again perhaps Suppliers - plural) confirms whether or not the project is viable, answering the question can this actually be done?
How are projects directed?
So with these roles defined we need to establish how the board effects and guides us: the Project Managers. As the name suggests, “directors” provide direction. When products need to be defined, signed off or changed, the Project Board step in. When baselines need to be adjusted and management strategies need updating, the Project Board step in. When the project is due to start, end or move into its’ next stage / phase, the Project Board step in. Notice that the Project Board is a decision making authority, responsible for the project wide decisions.
The responsibilities of the Project Board
As a decision making authority, this in turn means that accountability of the project falls to the Project Board also. Project success or failure is on the shoulders of those who signed off the project and continue to sign it off. The Project Board do not carry out day to day project management activities; the Project Board simply give approval for these activities to be carried out by a Project Manager in an agreed way.
In conclusion, the Project Board is a crucial success factor
The Project Board is absolutely crucial to a successful project and having the right people on the board aids success. Understand the decisions that need to be made, when they need to be made, why the need to be made, and what to look out for. If your organization would benefit from a half or full days’ executive briefing session, call 0800 151 0140 for more info. I would be delighted to come and visit your team to discuss this very important yet overlooked element of project management.
Have another question or challenge that you would like Harley to share his thoughts on? Why not let us know.
For more information and training on quality, join Harley on his next project management training course.
Call; 01202 736 373
email: sales@spoce.com
About Harley
Having worked in the industry since 2016, Harley’s experience is vast and knowledge of project management methods is of an elite standard. He has covered a wide variety of roles in a plethora of projects and has worked with some incredible project professionals over the years; there is seldom a scenario that Harley has not encountered.
Residing in Poole, Dorset Harley has specialized in maritime projects and programmes in and around the stunning natural harbour. From project managing major yachting events, to advising on risk management approaches, the natural elements have thrown endless challenges into projects where Harley has strategically extracted the best outcomes from each scenario. These tales make up some of Harley’s most interesting examples used when delivering his training of which attendees enjoy.
SPOCE is proud to have industry leading pass rates for delegates in the PRINCE2® and APM methods which Harley has played a vital part in achieving. Starting his training career in 2019, he would run sessions such as “what makes the perfect business case?” and the much loved “PRINCE2 Practitioner exam workshops”.
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