We undertake full programme and project appraisals.  We also facilitate project teams to “do it for themselves”:

  • premortems – testing “what might go wrong?” prior to launch
  • option appraisal
  • feasibility studies
  • developing individual and team skills in project appraisal and project management

“I worked with Paul on a major appraisal project involving multiple applications to a very large UK funder.  I have never met anyone who can assess a complex bid so quickly but pinpointed.  He sees the strengths and weaknesses of applications with such clarity”.

Customer – Government agency

The premortem is an approach to use at the point the organisation has a fairly firm idea about a project or a change initiative to be implemented.  We facilitate teams to ask and answer these questions.

We have applied this model in dozens of organisations across many sectors and it seems to work well every time – because it’s simple.  But what it’s doing is rather fundamental – it’s challenging the core business case. There are some recurring benefits that occur from applying the premortem:

  • avoiding false identification of the problem and its causes can save a project
  • consideration of alternative options nearly always leads to a sounder project
  • working in a facilitated team produces better solutions, many heads…..
  • understanding the pattern of past project failures helps avoid future failure

Appraisal is a wider process than the premortem.  We undertake:

  • independent appraisals
  • facilitation of Boards and funders to appraise projects that are being proposed
  • work with key stakeholders in the project development stage, the process from inception of an idea up to the point of formal appraisal

Option appraisal is at the heart of the wider appraisal process.  Typically, we identify 4-8 key ‘tests’ to apply to each option, factors such as impact, financials, risk, effect on customers and timescales.  This is where our change management expertise links to projects – appraisal is too often a process that assesses activity but overlooks process.  We also help assess: the recurring barriers to the project delivering change; whether there is a clear process to prepare the ground for change; and whether the project is likely to gain commitment of sufficient key stakeholders to succeed.

Click here for a  Premortem 2 page article