Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation of Large Projects seminar

I just listened to the PMI IS CoP webinar called Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation of Large Projects.  Points the presenter made:

• The dichotomy between the project right versus doing the right project.  The two are sadly often confused.  You need to produce the right output, yielding the right outcomes, and satisfying the right goals.
• Your project may still be hampered by external factors which do not allow you to yielding the right outcomes, and satisfying the right goals.  His example is a water treatment project while there was no associated sewer project.
• You need people responsible for achieving outcomes and goals as well as people (PM) responsible for the outputs.
• You need to take into account the measures of success of the stakeholders.  Timing of the success is also important.  Think what and when.  The when may well extend past the end of the project.
• You need performance indicators, during the project, that indicate that the outcomes and goals will be achieved.  If you deliver on time and on budget it is great, but it still need to meet the expected outcomes and goals to be successful.
• The PM needs to create a common understanding of project progress amongst stakeholder.  This is seldom achieved.
• Governance.  Basically defining the environment and rules that create an environment into which to execute successfully the project.  The presenter showed a concentric diagram showing goals on the outer rim, outcomes in a middle layer, and outputs in the inner circle.  The PM deals with the outputs (of the project). 
• The previous bullet is probably the best explanation of governance I've seen to date.  Many people chant the governance mantra but can't explain the damn thing...
• Presented an anecdote where a stakeholder, instead of specifying a goal, specified an output (a tool).  In that particular case they specified the wron tool and the delivery organization (home of the PM) delivered exactly what was asked for, not what was needed.  I see this happen often when fads and fashions are followed blindly.
• He mentioned 8 principles but I don't type fast enough...

Very interesting; lunch time well spent.  If you missed the webinar, you have to listen to the recording when it becomes available.

What do you think? As always questions and comments are welcome.

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Comments

[Shim Marom]

Hi Patrick, just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the time you put into summarizing the various webinars you watch/listen to. It is most certainly useful for people like myself who are 'down-under' and can't be 'there' in person. It is also a time saver for those who are 'up-over' who simply can't spare the time to listen. So thanks on behalf of all of us.

Cheers, Shim

[Patrick Richard]

Shim,

Thank you for you kind words. I do the summarizing partly to force me to listen more closely, partly to save others from "bad" webinars, and partly to promote people that have great input for other PMs. Glad it serves you well.