I was discussing the question of responsibility vs accountability with one of my clients recently and they were having difficulty distinguishing the two. This was one of the contributory factors why many of the strategies and projects they initiated failed to achieve the outcomes expected. So, what is the difference between being responsible for something…
Assertive communication is always important in a business environment, but often falls short. Employees typically complain about not knowing what is going on and / or being given too much irrelevant information. Communication during transformational change programmes is even more important. It is essential that messages are always adapted to suit your audience. This can…
In the world of project management, getting the foundations right is crucial for the success of any project. Following on from the business case, the next essential step is producing a detailed definition of requirements, commonly known as the Business Requirements Document (BRD). This document serves as a blueprint for the project, outlining what the…
The Importance of a robust Business Case in Project Management In the world of project management, the business case is a critical document that lays the foundation for any successful project. However, there is a common tendency among organisations to inflate business cases to ensure they get approved. This practice often leads to underestimating the…
In my recent articles about project overload, I discussed how businesses often find themselves drowning in multiple initiatives, forever fighting fires rather than making meaningful progress. This reactive approach isn’t just frustrating – it’s fundamentally flawed. It reminded me of a brilliant observation made by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954: “I have two kinds…
This case study demonstrates the success of Project Portfolio Management and the importance of having visibility and robust oversight of your entire portfolio of change. The techniques described have been repeated successfully with many other businesses I have supported and achieved similar results. The Company The private wealth management arm of a well known global banking…
Do you find yourself suffering from ‘project overload’, trying to manage too many conflicting priorities? Do you have to keep multiple bosses happy, or have more new ‘initiatives’ to start than you can complete? If so, you are not alone, and there are ways to manage these situations effectively. However, you need to be careful…
Why Project Assurance Matters In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, transformation projects and programmes, particularly digital led, are no longer optional – they’re essential for survival. Learn how continuous project assurance can help improve project health. Yet despite their critical importance, research shows that 70% of digital transformation projects fail to meet their objectives (Boston…
Learning from the DOGE Experiment A recent FinTech Weekly article highlights one of the most ambitious technology transformation initiatives in U.S. government history. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established in January 2025 and headed by Elon Musk, aims to modernise federal payment systems that handle over $6 trillion annually. This case is worth reading…
Maintaining Balance in Complex Change Projects When you look at the Assurify Consulting logo, you’ll notice its triangular design – three distinct sides forming a unified whole. This wasn’t a coincidental choice. The triangle represents one of the most fundamental concepts in project management: the Project Management Triangle, also known as the Triple Constraint Model…
In today’s complex business landscape, where organisational success increasingly depends on the effective delivery of transformational projects and programmes, Project Assurance has emerged as a critical strategic function. Yet many senior executives remain unclear about its true value and how it differs from traditional project management or audit functions. Beyond Traditional Oversight Project Assurance isn’t…
When it is a Programme or a Porfolio! The terms project, programme and portfolio are often used inconsistently with different organisations having contradictory interpretations of their meaning. This can lead to confusion both within the project management profession and with others in an organisation. Here I provide my view of these project management terms which…