Bridging the Business-Project Divide

In organisations in these days, there are two cultures, two sets of expectations, two languages; that of the business-as-usual organisation and separately that of projects. These cultures need to work together effectively. Unfortunately, the natural side-effect of two such different perspectives is misunderstanding, mutual incomprehension, and despite good intentions on both sides, failure tto deliver desired benefits.

In Bridging the Business-Project Divide John Brinkworth tackles these issues by examining:

• Symptoms — how do we know there is a problem? How is it manifested?
• Causes — looking beyond the symptoms to consider the root causes.
• Solutions — how addressing the root causes could lead to more successful projects. 

He offers an analysis that is initially focused on the main elements within the project lifecycle; covering the business perspective for each lifecycle step, then the project perspective, and finally a consideration of how these viewpoints can be bridged. He then switches to look at some of the common strands of activity that run through every project: quality planning, HR, finance, reporting and benefits, and provides a similar analysis.

This is a wonderfully pragmatic book which understands that one of the most natural ways to connect projects and business-as-usual activities is by identifying the needs of both, where these diverge and, most importantly, how to bring them together.

1. Introduction
• Part I: The Project Lifecycle
2. Identifying a Project
3. Justification and Approval for a Project
4. Getting Started
5. Requirements
6. Design
7. Build
8. Validation and Test
9. Going Live
10. Post-Live Realisation of Changes
• Part II: Common Strands
11. Quality
12. Planning and Execution
13. HR
14. Finance
15. Reporting
16. Benefits
17. Conclusions