Within the Department, project management is defined as: a related group of work activities organised to achieve a defined change aim or set of change objectives which will result in improved outcomes for children, young people and families.
It is important to understand that a project is something that can be planned and is something with a specific end in sight and which is managed to deliver as a single coherent whole. Projects should therefore not be confused with reactive or "business as usual" activities.
A project normally has the following typical attributes: specific budget; defined timescale; specifically allocated resources with clearly defined roles; specific objectives and deliverables; and, processes for managing risks, issues and dependencies and controlling changes.
Like all other public sector organisations, the Department exists within an environment of constant change. The drivers for such change include innovations in technology, changes in working practices, increased demands for value for money, for better regulation and the need to deliver radical reform to improve frontline services for children and young people.
This area of the site is primarily intended for those who are involved in the establishment, direction, management, support and delivery of projects. It provides guidance – based upon Departmental experience of successfully applying project management disciplines to deliver its business – for use by project managers, change managers and project office staff. It also provides guidance for leaders, owners and sponsors of projects of change.
The diagram above illustrates the process that you need to go through in your project.
