2008 PMI International Project Management Day

The theme at the 2008 International PMI day was "It's People that Count". CITI was delighted to have the opportunity to present with HBOS on their STEPS to change confidence initiative, reflecting PMI's commitment to the highest professional standards.

STEPS to Change Confidence Steve Jones, Principal Consultant CITI, presenting with Vicky Higham, HBOS plc

Fundamental to the success of any project or programme is the knowledge, attitude, skills and experience of the people involved in its delivery. This must be appropriate, and in many cases organisation-specific.

Based on extensive research into what makes projects and their managers successful, CITI works with clients to build a complete and coherent development framework that meets the specific needs of their organisation. Where the correct attitudes, specific skills and the necessary experience are required to deliver projects reliably, we have used our wealth of materials and expertise to extensively tailor our ‘beyond method’ courses and coach individual members of the project community, not just on the ‘what’ to do, but the ‘how’ best to achieve it.

CASE STUDY

HBOS is the UK's largest mortgage and savings provider and the number one provider of new investment products. The Group is one of the UK's leading general insurers and has a reputation for excellence in the provision of business banking and corporate finance, delivering innovative funding solutions across a range of markets. It incorporates many well known brands – including Clerical Medical and Birmingham Midshires – covering retail banking, corporate banking, insurance and investment management, and asset management.

After an external benchmarking review of its project capability, HBOS established a Project Capability Improvement Programme (now known as Change Confidence) to deliver outcomes that included sustainable business change with measurable business benefits.

HBOS determined to establish a programme & project management community, alongside existing recognised communities. To support the development of its project and programme managers, it has gradually developed collateral that has included updating of its internal methodology (STEPS), the launching of an internal web portal to support this, in conjunction with an emphasis on developing project manager behaviour in ‘how’ change is achieved as much as ‘what’ is used to deliver it. By integrating this with other initiatives at HBOS such as KPI’s for Sustainable Change, there is now a more consistent approach to the implementation of change across the business.

The maturity of the project management profession is evidenced by increased capability, development against an approved business plan, and recognition by peer groups within the organisation.