Building and embedding an enterprise programme management office at NCSL
- OverviewRead more
The National College for School Leadership (NCSL) is charged with transforming children's achievement and well-being by developing excellent school leadership. Our prior work with NCSL had recommended the creation of an Enterprise Programme Management Office (PMO) to continue to improve NCSL's delivery capability. This was called the Programme and Project Management Unit (PPMU) and we were tasked to provide an interim Head to form and run it. Working alongside a junior manager seconded into the PPMU ensured an experienced senior manager was recruited to be the long term Head. Working with each project and programme manager, we held regular meetings to identify risks and issues, which were resolved in monthly updates to the Senior Leadership Team. Our work delivered greater visibility and confidence in the NCSL's ability to deliver, increased understanding of PPM methods, improved cross-function working and improved project control.
- Our client's challengeRead more
NCSL is a Non Departmental Public Body funded by the Department for Children Schools and Families and is charged with transforming children's achievement and well-being by developing excellent school leadership.
NCSL undertakes a wide range of programmes and projects and Moorhouse had previously worked with the College to build and embed a pragmatic programme and project management method. A key recommendation of that project was the creation of an Enterprise Programme Management Office to continue to improve the delivery capability of the College and provide confidence to
NCSL's Leadership Group that the portfolio of activity was on track. NCSL called this the Programme and Project Management Unit (PPMU). NCSL did not have sufficient capacity internally and asked Moorhouse to provide an interim head to form and then run the new PPMU until a permanent staff Head was recruited.
- Our responseRead more
Moorhouse worked alongside a junior manager seconded into the PPMU to ensure not only that it was quickly established in the governance of the programmes and projects across the enterprise, but also that an appropriately experienced senior manager was recruited to become the long term Head of PPMU.
We worked with each programme manager and project manager to ensure that they understood the role of PPMU, as well as their own role, ensuring that the activities across the enterprise were managed and delivered to the best of everyone's ability.
This led to regular challenge meetings which enabled these programme and project managers to first build, then demonstrate their knowledge and control over their programmes and projects. This allowed risks and issues to be discussed and highlighted for escalation to the Senior Leadership Team who received a monthly summary update that enabled their effective decision making. Our supportive approach in this had the added benefit of building individuals' capability and expertise in the use of PPM approaches employed by NCSL.
An important part of our role was to ensure that the PPMU was suitably founded and staffed. We created terms of reference for the new unit and job descriptions for the roles of PPMU Head and Support Officer.
We also provided skills transfer to the junior manager seconded into the PMO and interviewed and appointed a permanent recruit into the post of PPMU Head, culminating in a controlled handover of responsibilities.
- The value to our clientRead more
The Strategic Leadership Team confirmed a number of benefits:
- Greater visibility and confidence in the College's ability to deliver
- Enhanced clarity and understanding of enterprise activities
- Improved information on which to provide updates to external stakeholders
Benefits to NCSL staff have included:- Increased understanding and familiarity with the College's PPM methods
- Advanced working across NCSL functions and a greater ability to co-ordinate programmes across a number of government agencies
Enhanced project control through the regular challenge sessions
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