The decision making framework is supported by three pillars: This refers to the governance committee structure.
Project governance frameworks should be based around a number of core principles in order to ensure their effectiveness.
As project decision making forums grow in size, they tend to morph into stakeholder management groups.
When numbers increase, the detailed understanding of each attendee of the critical project issues reduces.
Projects require flexibility and speed of decision making and the hierarchical mechanisms associated with organisation charts do not enable this.
The steering committee/project board is responsible for approving, reviewing progress, and delivering the project outcomes, and its intended benefits, therefore, they must have capacity to make decisions, which may commit resources and funding outside the original plan.
Adoption of this principle will minimise multi layered decision making and the time delays and inefficiencies associated with it.
It will ensure a project decision-making body empowered to make decisions in a timely manner.
The roles, responsibilities and performance criteria for the governance of project management are clearly defined.
Disciplined governance arrangements, supported by appropriate methods and controls are applied throughout the project life cycle.
Members of delegated authorisation bodies have sufficient representation, competence, authority and resources to enable them to make appropriate decisions.
The project business case is supported by relevant and realistic information that provides a reliable basis for making authorisation decisions.
There are clearly defined criteria for reporting project status and for the escalation of risks and issues to the levels required by the organisation.
The organisation fosters a culture of improvement and of frank internal disclosure of project information.
Project stakeholders are engaged at a level that is commensurate with their importance to the organisation and in a manner that fosters trust.
For the project manager, the sponsor provides timely decisions, clarifies decision making framework, clarifies business priorities and strategy, communicates business issues, provides resources, engenders trust, manages relationships, and promotes ethical working.