Communication
Communicate the messages required to secure commitment for the benefits realization effort.
Improvement Planning
Practices-Outcomes-Metrics (POM)
Representative POMs are described for Communication at each level of maturity.
- 2Basic
- Practice
- Broadcast a general vision statement for programme/project benefits.
- Outcomes
- A general vision for the programme and its business benefits is broadcast at programme launch.
- It focuses on goals, tasks, targets, and deadlines, but not on how individual behaviour change is linked to specific benefits realization.
- Metric
- % of programmes whose initiation/launch material makes explicit reference to business benefits aims.
- 3Intermediate
- Practice
- Institute a communications policy for change to provide direction on format, content, frequency, and delivery media, and aimed at successful stakeholder engagement.
- Outcome
- Change agents are equipped to develop comprehensive, outcome-oriented communications plans, customized to the needs of the situation and to the disposition of individual stakeholders.
- Metric
- % of programmes with a published communications policy for change (or equivalent).
- Practice
- Develop a communications plan, customized to suit the current investment programme/project.
- Outcome
- Customized interventions (in terms of medium, format, content, and timing) are established for target stakeholders.
- Metric
- % of programmes with an active benefits communications plan in action (as monitored by the programme board).
- Practice
- Plan collective broadcast of key messages (vision, benefits focus, call to action etc.) and progress reports.
- Outcome
- There is a common understanding among relevant stakeholders of what they collectively need to do/change in order to achieve the stated benefits of this investment.
- Metrics
- % of programmes with customized benefits communications across the life cycle.
- % of benefits owners who use regular progress reports to confirm their understanding of their role and to advise on progress of benefits achievement.
- 4Advanced
- Practice
- Plan, undertake, and document individual stakeholder encounters in terms of desired outcomes related to the benefits plan.
- Outcome
- The communications plan is explicitly tied into the benefits plan (and its individual benefits).
- Metric
- % of benefits plans with detailed tasks defined to cover contacts with individual benefits owners.
- Practice
- Conduct stakeholder encounters in a standard fashion (outcomes-focused, two-way communication, address resistance etc.).
- Outcome
- The communications plan is two-way, incorporating individual feedback and general reporting to allow it to be monitored, reviewed, and escalated at governance levels.
- Metric
- % of programmes with a log, detailed account and defined outcomes of all meetings, and contacts with benefits owners.
- 5Optimized
- Practice
- Conduct frequent stakeholder encounters using appropriate and continuously optimized leadership and communication styles.
- Outcome
- Communication is driven by reference to acknowledged best practice and is considered a critical part of the realization, management, and governance of business benefits.
- Metric
- % of programmes whose benefits oversight activity has been independently benchmarked against one or more industry standard practices.
- Practice
- Train change agents in selected communications and leadership techniques.
- Outcome
- Communication and leadership are recognized and fully supported as critical skills of accredited change managers for all forms of leadership interactions, ranging from information, education, and participation, to negotiation and enforcement.
- Metric
- % of programme team members who have received training in adaptive leadership and emotional intelligence, and have corresponding performance targets built into their personal reviews.
- Practice
- Feed back outcomes from stakeholder interaction into the stakeholder strategy and benefits plan, and adjust these accordingly.
- Outcome
- Communication is considered a critical and fully embedded part of the realization, management, and governance of business benefits.
- Metric
- % of programmes whose active benefits communications plan incorporates feedback and learning loops involving the programme team, programme board, and benefits owners.