What is benefit led?
Explanation of the concept and attraction
A benefit led programme is more than a case of pinning the Chief Executive Officer's stated purpose to a wall and then continuing on as normal. In a benefit led programme, be it a change or other project, all elements are directed and directly connected to the efficient delivery of one or more of the defined benefits.
Understanding benefits from the beginning
It is therefore key to understand and define those benefits exactly, and to ensure that the full scope of the implications for the organisation are understood before work begins. These benefits then set the scope, framework and metrics for the entire programme.
Actions, effort and expenditure are related back to the degree to which they can support the desired benefits. In this way focus is maintained on why something is done, not the mechanics of doing it.
Most importantly, by forming traceable links between actions taken and benefits accrued it is possible to justify and quantify the value and benefits from effort expended - and to ensure that this value is maintained.
Project led or benefit led?
The benefit led project has grown out of addenda to everyday project management. Since the majority of change directed projects fail to deliver on their original aims, the tracking and 'management' of benefits was seen as a way of maintaining a degree of focus on the original purpose for the project.
However to truly gain the benefits of a focus on the purpose of the project, it is necessary to put those benefits at the heart of the work - to be benefit led. This in no way removes for the need for good project management; but it does impose a structure and set of actions that engineer the project around the benefits, rather than the other way round.
Many organisations find this focus useful in keeping high level control and direction on the project, rather than it developing 'a life of its own'. Not only this, but benefit led activities easily generate obvious and traceable value statements - showing that money has been spent wisely.
Obvious
As such, benefit led sounds simple and obvious. However its important to realise that most conventional programmes tend to be badly defined around proxy goals for the real aims - and to ignore the practical behaviours of people in the real world. Getting to the heart of the need, understanding the organisation and how it will react, and finally charting the best course to delivery requires both close attention and an ability to step back from the here and now.