Business Case

Guidance on justifying investment against strategic fit, achievability, affordability, options, commercial aspects; used as key information source for managing the project by providing a framework for informed decision making from planning through managing the business change to the subsequent benefits realisation.

Centres of Excellence for Programme & Project Management

This guidance explains what a COE for programme and project management is and why every department should have one. It provides explanations and descriptions of the COE functions, the required roles and responsibilities, and the techniques involved.

Common Causes of Project Failure - OGC Best Practice booklet

(pdf, 221kb)

Common Causes of Project Failure - NAO/OGC list

(pdf, 121kb)
In this guidance NAO/OGC lists the common causes of project failure.

Delivery Lifecycle

The briefings in this section describe what needs to be done to achieve successful business change. If you are involved in planning, delivery of major projects or contract management, these briefings provide you with a clear action plan on the end-to-end management of change, together with the questions you should ask of your organisation and your partners. It includes templates and online links to other sources of help and advice. If you are responsible for organisational standards, you should tailor the material in these briefings to your organisation's specific requirements.

Strategic Management

This document provides guidance on setting targets for performance of services/contracts and continuous improvement and performance management.

Cost Management

Draft briefing that is being developed further in light of review feedback is available on the following topics:

Decision Map Guidance for Project Strategy and Procurement

This guidance helps customers determine which procurement approach best suits their particular needs, emphasising consideration by customer and supplier together of objectives, plans, risk and problem resolution. A Risk Allocation Model (pdf, 218kb) is also available.

Effective Partnering

This guidance aims to show that partnering is an immensely powerful tool that can contribute to successful project and programme outcomes and deliver significant improvements in value for money.

Getting Value for Money from Procurement - The Role of Auditors

(pdf 1.03mb)
This guide recognises the substantial contribution that auditors, both internal and external, can make in supporting departments in undertaking procurement activities as efficiently and effectively as possible through the application of proven best practice.

Green Book, Appraisal and Evaluation in Central Government

This guidance promotes efficient policy development and resource allocation across government, by informing decision-making, and by improving the alignment of departmental and agency policies, programmes and projects with government priorities and the expectations of the public.

Human Resources in a Project Environment

This guidance covers the following matters under this topic, together with staff grades for the roles involved:

Investment Decision Maker

This guidance outlines the specific responsibilities and skills and attributes of the Investment Decision Maker.

Prioritisation Categories

(pdf, 58kb)
This guide explains how programmes and projects should be categorised as Mission Critical, Highly Desirable or Desirable, including definitions for these priority classifications.

Project Management Briefing

Through the use of a hexagonally designed map this document sets out roles and responsibilities for delivery (governance) of individual projects, milestones and resources; identifies stakeholders; interdependencies; manages delivery; manages project budgets. Individual guidance is also available on the following subjects, the titles of which indicate the subject matter:

Programme Manager

This explains the Programme Manager's responsibilities.

Project Manager

This explains the Project Manager’s responsibilities for delivering the project.

Senior Responsible Owner (SRO)

This guidance deals with the following issues:

Successful Delivery Pocketbook - Preparation

The Successful Delivery Pocketbook (pdf, 3.19mb) explains how to plan for successful delivery, describing the steps that need to be taken to initiate effective programmes and projects.  It uses proven best practice techniques, taking account of lessons learned from OGC Gateway Reviews and other sources; it integrates with existing programme/project and risk management guidance.

Successful Delivery Skills Programme

Guidance covering the areas listed below is available:

Successful Delivery Toolkit

The Successful Delivery Toolkit describes proven best practice for procurement, programmes, projects, risk and service management.  The Toolkit brings together policy and best practice in a single point of reference and it gives practical advice on how to improve.