Benefits Realisation

1Introduction to the Book

Benefits realisation is a method for creating the greatest possible value from a change project. It is a new way of looking at and working with business change projects and other efforts needed to develop an organisation.

The current focus within both public and private sectors on implementing enablers, rather than on realising benefits and achieving the vision or end goal, is so widespread and deep rooted that it needs a clear process and sustained effort to change.

Gerald Bradley, author of Benefit Realisation Management (2010)

Benefits realisation is about focusing on the purpose and benefits we want to achieve and the behavioural change it will require of our colleagues. The method enables us to initiate our projects by designing business change projects (which will from this point on be referred to as ‘projects’) to create the prerequisites for realising our desired purpose and benefits.

New Behaviour Creates Benefits

The benefits realisation method prioritises behavioural change as the decisive and triggering factor for creating value. The method shows how our colleagues' new way of working creates the desired value. This ability to couple benefits and new behaviours is key to the success of a project. Changing our colleagues' behaviour often requires help. This help is what projects are all about. It could be helping colleagues to continue working in a new way or to overcome their resistance to change. But it could also be helping to support ...