The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has commissioned a custom configured project portfolio management system to measure the strategic value of its public projects.
The new software used to create the system will track a diverse short and long-term portfolio of some 600 projects and activities, including flood management, fuel poverty and environmental initiatives that are worth 4 billion.
The system will provide an objective visual overview of each project's overall contribution to strategic goals, based upon numerical and qualitative data to help manage the prioritisation of Defra's overall project funding and support.
Chris Hix, head of finance for climate change at Defra said: "The department deals with crises such as animal disease emergencies and floods, but also has long-term commitments including the objective of climate change mitigation and adaptation."
He explained: "The department must balance multiple and diverse priorities whilst also taking into account ministerial, legislative and European Union requirements. We therefore need a tool to support strategic decision-making."
Defra is using GenSight enterprise portfolio management software in its new project portfolio system, which provides advanced web-based reporting that uses graphical, numerical and tabular displays to provide analysis and reporting on key performance metrics based on a Defra-developed scoring system.
The system has been designed to highlight projects that offer significant benefit across multiple strategic goals and assess the probability of their success. GenSight also analyses resource allocation and spending and provides a prioritisation-based approach to budget allocation.
Hix added that prioritisation and criteria based decision-making would help create consensus on the strategic level of contribution of each activity. "We are looking at the contribution of individual projects and also assessing the full portfolio of the department," he said.
The new system forms part of the 18-month-old Renew Defra programme, aimed at transforming the government department's business processes to make it effective, responsive and accountable.
One of the Renew objectives is to match the prioritisation of activities to the overall level of resource, replacing Defra's previous silo-based funding system and helping to demonstrate taxpayer value more clearly.
-
Asus ZenScreen Fold OLED MQ17QH reviewReviews A stunning foldable 17.3in OLED display – but it's too expensive to be anything more than a thrilling tech demo
-
How the UK MoJ achieved secure networks for prisons and offices with Palo Alto NetworksCase study Adopting zero trust is a necessity when your own users are trying to launch cyber attacks
-
A buyer’s guide to board management softwareWhitepaper Improve your board’s performance
-
Basecamp 3 review: More molehill than mountainReviews Basic project management and collaboration tools wrapped into a tidy web and mobile interface
-
What is PRINCE2?In-depth We take a closer look at the project management framework
-
IT manager job description: What does an IT manager do?In-depth We look at the skills you need to be an effective IT manager, and potential career perks
-
What is object oriented programming?News We look at coding that concentrates on objects rather than actions
-
IT must focus on culture, not always technology, says Etihad CIOIn-depth Slow decision making and a closed structure will trip up businesses
-
Matchmaking in the workplace: How online dating can improve team effectivenessIn-depth Saberr founder Alistair Shepherd believes that online dating can change the way offices work
-
Why technology must be at the heart of your companyIn-depth Getting the right balance between IT and the business is crucial to your firm's future
