The Program Management Framework Project was initiated to address challenges and increase efficiency and effectiveness in project delivery through the implementation of consistent management processes at ILRI. We partnered with Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP) in order to design a Framework for program and project management and to have some initial support with the implementation of it. The PM Framework Project completed its Analyze & Design phase at the end of 2015, which resulted in the development of processes for program and project management at ILRI through the creation of the PM Framework Process Flow & Manual, using input from a representative set of subject matter experts across divisions, geographies, and roles within the organization.
All of ILRI’s Program Management Officers (PMOs) were involved in the development of the Process Flow and Manual and are the point of contact for this within each research program. Additionally, process owners were identified earlier this year for each process area within the PM Framework to be responsible for maintaining the Process Flow & Manual, to drive support and enhancement initiatives in this area, and to serve as points of contact for staff. The process owners by area are:
- Nadine Sanginga – Proposal Development
- Jasmine Bruno – Project Planning
- Assenath Kabugi – Project Executing and Project Closing
- Simon Turere – Program Management
Process Workshops
In June, a series of Program and Project Management Process Workshops were conducted by ADP and the team above for ILRI’s program leaders, project leaders, program/project management staff, and select support staff. The workshops were held in order to communicate the processes to the staff that is responsible for managing our programs and projects as defined the Process Flow & Manual that was shared in the sessions.
The materials from workshops and the Process Flow & Manual have been posted on the PM Framework’s website: www.ilri.org/pmf. The Program Management Framework’s website can also be accessed from the ILRInet site.
Accenture Development Partnerships Transition
Support for the implementation from ADP was requested through the middle of this month. Over the past few months, the Project has been completing a transition to shift knowledge and responsibility from the ADP consultant, Jenny Brately, to the process owners listed above. That transition is now complete as scheduled, and last week was Jenny’s final one at ILRI.
Future Activities & Support
In the recent Process Workshops, a task was introduced for each research program to evaluate their current alignment with the processes that were communicated and identify the changes that need to be made within their program area and its projects in order to fully adhere to the defined processes. The task is also an opportunity for research programs to communicate feedback on how the organization can best support them with this change. The task is being completed by each program leader and PMO with input from other staff, as needed. The feedback from this task will be monitored in order to track that programs and projects are making the necessary changes to align with the processes and that they are being supported appropriately. Additionally, as communicated in the Process Workshops, initiatives are planned to support staff in following these processes, including the creation of project management templates, the implementation of additional functionality in OCS, and communications to staff beyond those that attended the workshops in order to expand the understanding of these processes within the organization.
Questions
Please contact the PM Framework’s process owners at ILRIPMFramework@cgiar.org with any questions.
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