The City of Onkaparinga has developed a project management system that has raised the standards of program and project management across the organisation.
General Manager Organisational Services, Terry Crackett, said that Council has developed a range of planning tools and templates for staff to use at each stage of the project management process from proposal, through to assessment, definition, planning and design, implementation and evaluation.
Terry said the project management system is linked to Council’s strategic planning, financial planning, annual budgeting and business planning processes.
“It strengthens the connection between planning and delivery,” she said. “To support the use of these tools and templates, a tailored made training program was developed and rolled out to 300 staff.
“This was able to reinforce the expectations and standards required for project management in the organisation. A key part of the project management system is a program and project register.”
Terry said this provides online reporting on what initiatives are underway and operates as an online business plan. Details about projects can be accessed by staff and Councillors, with monthly reporting and review of these by senior management. The end result is that more emphasis is placed on assessment and definition stages to ensure more projects are delivered at cost, on time and with outcomes that meet community expectations.
For more information contact Terry Crackett on tercra@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au or phone (08) 8384 0581.
