Valuta Review and Support Experience: Q&A

How will Valuta help my project?
The Valuta review and support experience focuses on high-risk projects, of whatever type and scale. From change management to new IT Systems to major infrastructure investment, the process is subject-neutral and is concerned with the fundamentals of sound project management rather than technicalities per se. Operating on core principles of independence, objectivity, openness and confidentiality, a Valuta intervention quickly gets to “the heart of the matter”, and is a proven technique for significantly enhancing the prospects of project success.

How is it done?
At critical points in a project’s life-cycle (e.g. before approval of investment, or commissioning) an independent team is formed by Valuta, consisting of 3 people with hands on experience of project delivery. This team may include members with relevant background drawn from the Valuta client cadre – a group of client project managers who have been trained to work the way we work - this approach offers the client an increased opportunity for skills transfer. The entire  process is Valuta quality assured – through verified skills and experience of team members, through the systems deployed, and through director review at key stages.
An Initial Assessment with the Project’s owner is followed by a Planning Meeting where the review team meets key members of the project team and/or board; a sound mutual understanding of the Valuta approach and of the project is established here, and the practicalities (interviewees, timing, venue etc) are all agreed. The intervention itself normally then occurs within 2 weeks, with relevant documents made available in the intervening period. Senior stakeholder interviews are at the core of the review, lasting from 30 to 45 minutes each and encompassing 12 to 15 individuals with a key interest in the project’s success. On the third and final day, the draft report is shared with the Project Owner (and other invitees at their discretion). Valuta then offers a feedback presentation and discussion to the Project Board, providing an opportunity to fully explore the implications of the report and, importantly, key steps to enhance project success.

What are the Benefits?
The Valuta approach has a catalytic effect, exciting early and positive action by the project team to mitigate risks and/or to strengthen areas of good practice. The whole process is rapid – typically 3 weeks from initial assessment to report – and efficient from the client’s perspective in that primary resource input is via short, focused interviews. The report itself is always concise, with typically 5 or 6 pages of clear jargon-free analysis and recommendations. Most importantly the review delivers consistent and massive value add to projects by highlighting issues vital to project success, and offering greater assurance on business-critical investments.

If you are a responsible for a project or programme and would like more information on how the Valuta team can help you deliver your project successfully, simply drop an email to us at info@valuta.co.uk – we look forward to working with you.