Driving Cross-Departmental Excellence in Delivery Management

A key UK government department required an effective cross-departmental delivery management strategy to address complexities in its delivery portfolio. The programme involved multiple sub-projects and required collaboration between various departments and stakeholders, including external partners and internal policy teams. The lack of an integrated delivery framework had resulted in inefficiencies, missed deadlines, and challenges in meeting governance requirements.

Reed Professional Services (RPS) was engaged to provide strategic delivery management expertise, develop robust programme governance, and facilitate cross-functional collaboration. RPS brought on board a multidisciplinary team with deep experience in project and programme management, governance, and stakeholder engagement.

1. Initial Assessment:

RPS began by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the existing delivery framework. This included stakeholder interviews, gap analyses, and risk assessments to identify key pain points and opportunities for improvement.

2. Developing Governance Structures:

RPS worked closely with senior stakeholders to design a governance model that ensured accountability and transparency. This included creating decision-making hierarchies, project assurance frameworks, and compliance tracking tools tailored to the organisation’s objectives.

3. Implementation of Delivery Frameworks:

Leveraging Agile and Prince2 methodologies, RPS designed and implemented delivery frameworks that addressed both the programme’s strategic and operational needs. These frameworks facilitated better tracking of progress, streamlined reporting mechanisms, and improved alignment with policy goals.

4. Stakeholder Engagement:

With multiple internal and external stakeholders, RPS facilitated cross-functional workshops and regular project briefings. This ensured consistent communication, alignment of priorities, and buy-in across all levels of the programme.

5. Upskilling and Knowledge Transfer:

To ensure long-term sustainability, RPS conducted training sessions and mentoring programmes for internal teams. This focused on programme governance, risk management, and agile delivery practices.

6. Risk Mitigation:

A robust risk management framework was introduced to proactively identify, monitor, and address risks. This included creating a centralised risk register and implementing mitigation strategies for critical risks.

• Enhanced Governance: The introduction of a bespoke governance model improved decision-making and accountability across the programme.

• Improved Delivery Efficiency: The streamlined delivery framework resulted in a 25% reduction in project delays.

• Stronger Collaboration: Regular workshops and communication channels fostered a culture of collaboration and transparency among stakeholders.

• Sustainability: RPS’s knowledge transfer initiatives ensured that internal teams were well-equipped to manage the programme independently post-engagement.

This project exemplifies how strategic delivery management and cross-departmental collaboration can drive significant improvements in efficiency, governance, and outcomes in complex government programmes.