Elevating Benefits Maturity

Challenge

The programme had undergone a benefits maturity assessment which revealed significant gaps in their approach. The programme needed to align with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) new Benefits Management Methodology while simultaneously meeting urgent reporting requirements as a Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) programme in delivery. With low initial maturity scores and insufficient data, the client required immediate support to strengthen their benefits management capability and meet strict assurance conditions. 

Solution

Methods collaborated with the client to implement a comprehensive transformation approach, broken down into the following: 
 
Assessment and stakeholder engagement 
•    Conducted a detailed review of their benefits documentation against strategic objectives and business cases 
•    Facilitated tailored workshops with key stakeholders and Project Management Office (PMO) team  
•    Collaborated to review benefit assumptions, establish baselines and risks to realisation, and identify tracking metrics 

Tools and framework development 

• Created essential tracking tools including metrics database and Benefits Map 

• Developed benefit profiles with revised definitions 

• Designed board-level dashboard template for ongoing metrics tracking  
• Crafted reporting language to articulate the limitations the programme faces in direct measurement of benefits across the complex landscape they operate in 
  
  

Knowledge transfer 

• Delivered comprehensive playback sessions with stakeholders 

• Conducted dedicated PMO knowledge transfer sessions 

• Provided complete documentation and templates 

• Created strategic recommendations deck for future benefits management 

Impact

The transformation delivered remarkable improvements in benefits management maturity: 

Quantitative improvements 

• Advanced from meeting 67% of 'Developing' criteria to achieving 100% 

• Improved from 70% of 'Good' criteria to 96% 

• Achieved 86% in 'Better' category and 47% in 'Best' category 

• Overall criteria met across all gradings increased from 39% to 83% (111% improvement) 

Qualitative achievements 

• Established clear benefits narrative aligned with strategic objectives 

• Implemented effective benefits reporting framework 

• Enhanced stakeholder engagement in benefits management 

• Met IPA Gate 5 Benefit Realisation requirements 

• Created a sustainable approach for monitoring and reporting in complex operational landscape 

The team has the tools, knowledge, and framework to independently manage, track, and report benefits, ensuring continued alignment with the methodology while meeting all regulatory requirements.