CITI - partners in change » Defence http://www.citi.co.uk Thu, 10 Dec 2015 13:34:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3.2 UK Intelligence Agency – improve capability http://www.citi.co.uk/uk-intelligence-agency-improve-capability/ http://www.citi.co.uk/uk-intelligence-agency-improve-capability/#comments Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:33:51 +0000 http://www.citi.co.uk/?p=1834 This UK Intelligence Agency is a forward looking organisation. Most of their employees have specialist skills, one of which is project management. The intellgience agency helps them develop and work flexibly – in ways that suit them – so that they can give of their best.

Opportunity

This Government body had in place a Centre of Excellence Programme designed to create overall improvements in project and programme (PPM) capability. Training had been in place for three years and many of the managers were either PRINCE2® and/or MSP accredited.

The organisation used CITI’s profiling tools to understand the capability of project managers in order to match them to the varying degrees of project complexity. It was clear in some instances that skill gaps existed between the project manager and the demands of their project. It was also evident from our work on the development of a skills and competency model for the PPM community, that more sophisticated development approaches were required to meet specific development needs.

Approach

Together with our client we decided to put in place a supportive coaching scheme for selected project managers. Key to the success of this was diagnosing the nature of the individual need – should the coaching focus on development needs or tactical project concerns? Using the coaching intervention model the resource manager and the CITI consultants identified the primary focus of the coaching.

To be successful, developmental interventions must be seen as relevant, and ‘just-in-time’, with a real commitment to taking part by the project manager. Short, ‘speed-dating’ interventions were used to identify the concerns, the appropriate style to be used and the commitment – these set the expectations on both sides, and matched the coach to the ‘coachee’.

These ‘speed-dates’ were invaluable. As one CITI consultant coach commented: “…for one person it may be a directive (do this) approach, because they are on a high-risk track for their project and their skill levels and lack of confidence has ‘paralysed’ them. For another person it may be a supportive approach as they have a clear and distinct approach to their project. They are ready to be challenged and supported as they stretch themselves.”

Outcome

Within this UK intelligence agency a community of professional project managers has been formed. Complex projects are now routinely run by professional project managers, who feel able to handle them with confidence, and who recognise the benefits of sharing knowledge and ideas with other project professionals – exploring options, testing ideas, delivering results.

PRINCE2® is a registered trade mark of AXELOS Limited

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BAE Systems – capability profiling http://www.citi.co.uk/bae-systems-capability-profiling/ http://www.citi.co.uk/bae-systems-capability-profiling/#comments Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:24:01 +0000 http://www.citi.co.uk/?p=1823 BAE Systems ensures that all of its senior leaders undertake an annual performance and development review.

“This review includes the identification of their personal and professional development needs, a challenging task for some, unless supported by objective information. Project Management (PM) capability development is a priority for our business, hence the need to ensure that our senior PM community are offered a process to support their personal development planning,” said Ian Grant, HR Director, BAE Systems.

Why profiling?

Research supports BAE Systems processes. So why are organisations (in general) so bad at identifying personal development follow-throughs, and why is it that this is so often the section that is rushed through at the end of a development interview? The diagnosis-development model pictured below emphasises the importance of considering the problem before jumping to training as a solution. Organisations and their line managers, as well as individual project professionals do need to know: What strengths do we bring to our role? What areas do we naturally emphasise? What are the development priorities?

Available approaches

To perform this diagnosis organisations can consider a variety of inputs. Self assessment, applied in a structured way, helps us to review where we think we may need to concentrate – the Association for Project Management (APM) competence self-assessment is a good starting point for this. 360 degree gives us valuable input into how others perceive us and is particularly good for reviewing behavioural competences – many organisations like BAE Systems are now offering this as an integral part of leadership programmes.

External assessments provide valuable insights into how organisations can position themselves against a broader external benchmark – the approaches here vary from simple knowledge tests to profiling and full-blown assessments such as the APM Practitioner. All of these inputs must be considered within the context of the demands of our role – what capability is needed within the organisation?

The BAE Systems approach and outcomes

Through profiling and coaching interventions, CITI has been working with BAE Systems to support the ‘diagnosis-development’ processes. The sessions focus on supporting individuals in exploring their development needs from all perspectives and then, most importantly, encouraging them to take action – what is the first step to take, how will they take it and what support do they need?

Ian added: “BAE Systems has deployed the CITI profiling process to provide our senior PM practitioners with information that can enable them to identify opportunities to strengthen their professional capability. The outputs offer people an independently assessed personal benchmark against best in class. The clarity and objectivity of the feedback is an important enabler of effective personal development planning.”

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