Client – Naval product manufacturer

Brief – A naval product manufacturer had introduced a key stage management methodology for their major development and manufacturing programmes approximately two years previously – the methodology featured both a defined key stage structure and a prescribed set of key stage gate reviews.

The brief was to review the methodology in the light of experience, capture any learning, and update the documentation as required.

Contribution – Working with the client’s Sponsor, Vee Solutions identified a cohort of roughly 50 stakeholders to be approached for feedback.  Because Vee Solutions had previously delivered several assignments with this client, Vee Solutions was able to contribute to mapping the stakeholders on an influence vs Interest grid – and also because of this previous work, Vee Solutions was known to the stakeholders making the task of approaching them and obtaining feedback considerably easier.

A substantial proportion of the identified stakeholders were interviewed, and approximately 150 key items of structured feedback obtained.   Analysis of the feedback suggested minor improvements to the methodology with more significant changes to the underlying key stage structure.

A way forward, based upon the evidence of the structured feedback, was agreed with senior leadership and key stakeholders and a draft update to the documentation generated.  Considerable “socialisation” with the stakeholder community was judged necessary since, whilst the overall picture was clear, there were significant “outliers” in the opinions expressed, particularly from very influential individuals.  There was a clear risk that some influential stakeholders could delay / compromise the roll-out of the updated methodology.

Outcome – An updated methodology, based upon evidence from structured feedback, has been delivered.  Feedback on the update has been that it is well grounded, appropriate to the evolving needs of the business, and a clear improvement on the initial version.