Guidelines for good project management

An output of the RE-ACT project under Interact

Ronan Gingles for AER, Strasbourg, 14 June 2007

RE-ACTRE-ACT

““Regional Actors in Interreg Cooperation”Regional Actors in Interreg Cooperation”

Emilia-Romagna & Lombardia (IT)Emilia-Romagna & Lombardia (IT) Southern & Eastern Ireland Southern & Eastern Ireland Balearics (ES)Balearics (ES) Crete (GR)Crete (GR) SloveniaSlovenia Champagne-Ardennes (FR)Champagne-Ardennes (FR) (Bosnia-Herzegovnia)(Bosnia-Herzegovnia)

A ‘Russian Doll’A ‘Russian Doll’

‘‘Activity 3’Activity 3’

Seeking to deliver a series of ‘recommendations’Seeking to deliver a series of ‘recommendations’and ‘tools’.and ‘tools’.

Interpreting the analyses of programmes andInterpreting the analyses of programmes andproject management (activities 1&2)project management (activities 1&2)

Aims of Activity 3Aims of Activity 3

Coordinating, shaping and editing findingsCoordinating, shaping and editing findingsfrom 2 original reports from 2 original reports

Integrating partner comments and feedbackIntegrating partner comments and feedback

Turning observations into something usefulTurning observations into something useful

StructureStructure

Originally: single over-arching document onOriginally: single over-arching document onrecommendations envisagedrecommendations envisaged

Conclusions and findings of potential use to aConclusions and findings of potential use to arange of organisationsrange of organisations

Some overlaps and shared conclusions.Some overlaps and shared conclusions.Activity 1 – for programming bodiesActivity 1 – for programming bodiesActivity 2 – For those involved in projectsActivity 2 – For those involved in projects

and and for those who manage them… for those who manage them…

Better targetted ‘packaging’ neededBetter targetted ‘packaging’ needed

Programmes before ProjectsProgrammes before Projects

Output of most relevance to the Output of most relevance to the

new programme drafting process new programme drafting process

……already underway by summer 2006.already underway by summer 2006.

2 phase approach2 phase approach– Need to prioritise ‘Programmes’ work Need to prioritise ‘Programmes’ work

firstfirst

2 reports = 2 distinct targets2 reports = 2 distinct targets

Programmes ‘Concept Paper’Programmes ‘Concept Paper’

””Recommendations drawn from an analysis ofRecommendations drawn from an analysis ofINTERREG Programmes” INTERREG Programmes” (July 2006)(July 2006)

Roadmap for improving the planningRoadmap for improving the planningand management.and management.

Credible recommendations from Credible recommendations from practitioners.practitioners.

Forwarded to Programme Authorities, Forwarded to Programme Authorities, drafting teams & DG REGIO. drafting teams & DG REGIO.

http://www.interact-eu.net/download/application/pdfhttp://www.interact-eu.net/download/application/pdf/1133644/1133644

… …better programmes…better programmes…

Ground rules of establishmentGround rules of establishment

Political & Regional involvementPolitical & Regional involvement

Systems for applications & projectsSystems for applications & projects

Building on Previous Results & NetworksBuilding on Previous Results & Networks

Application of rules & regsApplication of rules & regs

Programme Lessons LearnedProgramme Lessons Learned

Southern & Eastern Regional AssemblySouthern & Eastern Regional Assembly

Establishing the strategies, structures andEstablishing the strategies, structures andtools for: tools for: new role as Managing & Certifying Authority new role as Managing & Certifying Authority

for the INTERREG IVA Ireland/Wales for the INTERREG IVA Ireland/Wales Programme Programme

negotiations on drafting of Operational negotiations on drafting of Operational Programmes for this programme and for Programmes for this programme and for INTERREG IVB North West Europe.INTERREG IVB North West Europe.

Work on ‘Projects’Work on ‘Projects’

More detailed extraction work.More detailed extraction work.

Analyzing and building on key ‘Activity 2’Analyzing and building on key ‘Activity 2’

observationsobservations

RRealistic ealistic recommendations & recommendations & guidelines guidelines onon

how to better manage future projectshow to better manage future projects

Project ManagementProject Management

Series of key tasks: Series of key tasks:

Background context Background context Idea focusIdea focus Common approaches & teamworkCommon approaches & teamwork Visualising outcomesVisualising outcomes Resources and staffing Resources and staffing Defining roadmap (activities) Defining roadmap (activities) Scheduling activities Scheduling activities Task management Task management Administration Administration Implementation Implementation Follow-up…Follow-up…

plus ‘International element’plus ‘International element’

Extra complexities in developing a sharedExtra complexities in developing a shared

partnership understanding across frontiers:partnership understanding across frontiers:

Cultural differences Cultural differences LanguagesLanguages DistanceDistance Administrative competence Administrative competence ResourcesResources Varied perspectivesVaried perspectives

‘‘Toolkit’Toolkit’

‘‘Regional Practitioner Guidelines forRegional Practitioner Guidelines for

Good Project Management in theGood Project Management in the

Territorial Cooperation ObjectiveTerritorial Cooperation Objective’’

Completed in March 2007Completed in March 2007

Based on Project PhasesBased on Project Phases

Project Idea PreparationProject Idea Preparation Building the PartnershipBuilding the Partnership Developing the Application Developing the Application

& Budget & Budget Project ImplementationProject Implementation Monitoring & EvaluationMonitoring & Evaluation Dissemination & LegacyDissemination & Legacy

Advice…Advice…

Explanations…Explanations…

……& Checklists& Checklists

‘‘Golden Rules’Golden Rules’

Address real needs - clearly & realistically Address real needs - clearly & realistically Relevant partnersRelevant partners Know your partnersKnow your partners Clear partner rolesClear partner roles Allocation of resourcesAllocation of resources Defined objectivesDefined objectives Informing & involving stakeholdersInforming & involving stakeholders Sustainability of project resultsSustainability of project results Application correctApplication correct Professional & experienced structuresProfessional & experienced structures

……be prepared!be prepared!

Tips for managing the preparation andTips for managing the preparation and

delivery of more efficient, less troublesome, &delivery of more efficient, less troublesome, &

more productive projects.more productive projects.

……not just for ‘Regional Practitioners’!not just for ‘Regional Practitioners’!

Lessons & ImpactsLessons & Impacts

Regions and ‘Cooperation’Regions and ‘Cooperation’

Why regions should be looking to participate:Why regions should be looking to participate:(non-financial benefits):(non-financial benefits):

New perspectivesNew perspectives New ways of working New ways of working Building relationships with regions & sectors Building relationships with regions & sectors

across Europeacross Europe Present strategic needs and proposals to EU Present strategic needs and proposals to EU

Institutions (inform regional policy) Institutions (inform regional policy) Implementation of regional & national spatial Implementation of regional & national spatial

planning agendasplanning agendas Territorial investment based on wider analysisTerritorial investment based on wider analysis

Now it’s up to project promoters to ‘RE-ACT’Now it’s up to project promoters to ‘RE-ACT’

and put advice into practice!and put advice into practice!

More Info & DownloadsMore Info & Downloads

www.reactproject.orgwww.reactproject.org

Ronan GinglesRonan Gingles

Southern & Eastern Regional AssemblySouthern & Eastern Regional Assembly

Ireland Ireland