Great Leaders Programme - Aspiring Directors Application Summary

Mark Goudy

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL Programme Management and ultimately change management across a number of departments. There are inconsistencies across the business with the production and management of programmes. Although each client has differing needs with respect to programmes, most are catching up with the requirements of the term contracts for TfL, Westminster and Southwark with the need for a fully integrated Master Programmes. This includes the cradle to grave delivery from concept through to design, delivery and maintenance with key milestones and stage gates. Having worked alongside some consultant programme managers in the business, there is common ground on the contracts they have worked and where I have taken over contracts and established the programme. Other departments use excel and powerpoint to present detailed programme of works, that don’t capture change and aren’t managed in an efficient manner. Although fit for the initial purpose of knowing when some works will go to ground, the pre- site stages (permits) are all captured through mixture of differing trackers held remotely on each person’s laptop. Solution A Programme Management Team spread across the business that sit with each discipline and each term contract as required, to facilitate the programming of the works ensuring continuity in the approach and similar stage gates. This will not take responsibility away from those running the contract and or works but will allow them to see all parts of the process in one succinct programme. For example: A Surfacing scheme in August, needs both the TM and Lining teams to support them on the night of the works along with A&A. Ahead of these works, the permits need to be placed and granted, which if working within TfL is a three-month process. Ahead of the permits there are need for designs, investigations, cores and the full contractual requirements. Any delay in any element of this process can have an impact on the next and cause a delay.

THREE PILLARS PROPOSAL The following answer will build on the area of the business where I believe improvements can be made (Programme Management) and with a focus on Technology. Technological development across the industry has accelerated as a response to dealing with the working conditions enforced around COVID-19. This has included remote working, and less focus on direct coordination with operatives on site activities. Programme updates are being carried out by photographs uploaded to a cloud based shared access area with narrative supplied by the operatives. Although each customer has different needs, there are common criteria that need to be captured, including number of defects on highways and footways, change control across larger schemes, leading to design alterations or a requirement for extension of time due to delays. Producing a fully automated system that would allow updates from site, capturing all the above activities, feeding directly into a programme update and in turn shared with a customer’s system, would solve several Key Success Factors (KSFs). This would not only include the frontend operations of progress, but would also be linked to the commercial disputes, automatic payment structures and claims for works completed. A large focus would be placed on a detailed training structure for the rollout of this system, with regular audits necessary. These efficiencies would leave the contract manager open to engage with the customer as desired through KSFs, but due to the method in which data would be presented, this face-to-face time would be reduced. Each customer would receive a bespoke technological solution, which although costly, would likely be cost neutral due to the length of contracts and clearly beneficial in view of the long-term strategic thinking of both contract extensions and new contracts all together. Although a bespoke tech solution, the parameters of the programme will remain the same. This option would place a lot of emphasis on the correct data being collected at source, which could open risks. There would also be concerns over the integration with government systems, due to the historic nature of them. Due to the likelihood of upgrades over the period of the contract.

APPLICATION SUMMARY

Wendy: Application was acceptable. Proposals were not presented as well as others.

Sam: Leadership explanation ok. On a senior level qualification at present so surprised his application was not strategic in its approach. Sue: Will complete an MBA December 2021 which he commenced with previous employer. Believe he is self- funding at present. Could benefit from working with his peer group but would not need sponsorship for further studies. Shortlist for Strengthscope, workshops etc.

Decision: Shortlist

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