The client was not effectively realizing the benefits of its projects even though it had a project management methodology. Benefits were documented but not measured after projects went live, and no one was responsible for ensuring benefits were achieved. Maven devised an approach to benefits management for the client that relied on project and change managers working with business managers. Maven held workshops to explain the benefits management framework and identify activities needed within projects and businesses to define, measure, and achieve benefits. Maven also developed a guide on benefits management that is now used for training and discussions on projects to ensure benefits are realized.

1. Benefits realisation - a European executive agency
The client had a programme and project management methodology but was convinced that
it was still not realising the benefits of its considerable efforts. Benefits were written up in
the business case and reviewed as part of the initial authorisation. However little attention
was paid to what changes needed to take place to realise or measure the benefits after
projects had gone live - routinely project teams were disbanded as quickly as possible after
project completion. No-one retained responsibility; project sponsors anecdotally recognised
the improvements that different projects and changes offered but did not formally measure
them.
Benefits management relies on project managers and change managers working in close co-
operation with managers from each business line impacted by the changes. Maven devised
the agency’s approach to benefits management.
We held benefits workshops to explain the benefits management framework to the agency’s
management and how it aligned to the existing procedures used within the organisation. We
ran further benefits workshops with business and project managers working through their
projects to identify what activities were required within the business and within the project
team to ensure benefits were identified, measured, changes made to achieve benefits
realisation and measures taken again to evidence the improvements. We also developed a
step-by-step guide to benefits management for future training and induction sessions.
Benefits management is a subject that now leads all discussions when projects and changes
are first identified and authorised and is a regular subject at all project reviews.
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