Client Situation

Our client is a global provider of complex defence equipment and support products who had just secured the go-ahead to a major new programme involving multiple international partners and stakeholders.

To professionally mobilise the programme, Aczel was engaged to:

  • Define the future programme and reconcile the multiple stakeholder trade-offs
  • Ensure the programme met critical success criteria for all partners
  • Drive the business case for government to approve the programme
  • Define the programme operating model for successful delivery

Approach

We fielded a very senior team with deep understanding and practical experience of complex programme set up and delivery. This team was able to both rapidly identify and address barriers to success and command the respect of all parties. We gained the trust of the stakeholders by remaining independent throughout and being equally challenging to all parties.  Finally, to ensure fact-based decision making throughout the process, we utilised our systems modelling capability to visualise programme trade-offs

We drove strategic programme alignment across partners and stakeholders by following a rigorous, structured approach.  Starting with strategic intent for the programme and clearly defining each partner’s critical success criteria, we analysed several options which met programme and partner requirements in different ways

To show how the different options impacted the programme we created a visualisation model to show the trade-offs between military effect, national prosperity and value for money. We demonstrated the role of each partner in delivery and how these integrated into a total solution. Finally we demonstrated how this solution met each partner’s success criteria

We led the business case definition and stakeholder buy-in. Multiple decision makers within government, military and industry meant that the path to approval was not clear.  We mapped out the complex stakeholder needs and analysed the trade-offs required for success

Finally we set up the delivery model for the programme’s upcoming phase combining both a multi-party operating model and governance process

Results

With our unrelenting focus on “best for programme” we secured alignment across a highly complex stakeholder landscape. As a result, the business case was delivered on time and approved; a critical step for such a complex programme

Stakeholders are now aligned to the programme success criteria and have clarity on how to deliver the next phase of the programme in an agreed governance structure

Operating as a joint team meant that our client was quickly able to become self-sufficient, enabling them to proceed into the next phase with reduced external assistance

Summary

This was a critical phase for an internationally important, complex programme. Obtaining the continued investment contributed to the national security of several nations and safeguarded thousands of jobs

“Aczel acted as a “critical friend” and united multiple parties with differing success criteria and accelerated the programme through their drive, knowledge and facilitation”

Client Sponsor

Your contact

Richard Aczel

Director

richard.aczel@aczel.org

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