3.3 Have options for potential ways listing of high-level options for meeting the • forward been identified? business need options analysis or feasibility studies, if • available. 4. Management of Intended Outcomes Areas to probe Evidence expected 4.1 Have the required outcomes from a current list of the main outcomes and desired • the project been identified? benefits, linked to strategic outcomes and to the deliverables from specific projects 4.2 Are the planned outcomes still outcomes identified, together with their • achievable, or have any changes in relationships to each other; scope, relationship or value been credible plans for the achievement of • properly agreed, and has the outcomes; and business case been reviewed? Is the ongoing commitment from stakeholders to the • project time critical? outcomes and their achievement ministerial agreement to scope changes • 4.3 Are key stakeholders confident confirmation of time-critical issues and a • outcomes will be achieved when realistic schedule to achieve them; expected? Is it on track to deliver? mechanisms for collecting performance data • are in place and a plan for evaluating the impact of the project are in operation; the project board is confident that planned • milestones will result in good quality deliverables that will deliver the necessary outcomes; and a commitment from key stakeholders that • project deliverables will achieve the desired outcomes. 4.4 Is there a plan for achieving the a benefits management plan and a plan to • required outcomes? ensure that outcomes are delivered in terms of performance measures and/or key performance indicators; plans to identify appropriate baseline • measures against which future performance will be assessed; plans to carry out performance measurement • against the defined measures and indicators; where planned outcomes have not been • achieved, evidence the problems have been identified and plans are in place to resolve them; and clarity on how the objectives from the projects • link to the outcomes of the program 5. Risk Management Areas to probe Evidence expected 5.1 Have the major risks been identified? a current list of the major strategic, political • and/or reputation, environmental and legislative risks to the overall project, analysed by likelihood and impact; early warning indicators identified; •
3.3 Have options for potential ways forward been identified? • listing of high-level options for meeting the business need • options analysis or feasibility studies, if available. 4. Management of Intended Outcomes Areas to probe Evidence expected 4.1 Have the required outcomes from the project been identified? • a current list of the main outcomes and desired benefits, linked to strategic outcomes and to the deliverables from specific projects 4.2 Are the planned outcomes still achievable, or have any changes in scope, relationship or value been properly agreed, and has the business case been reviewed? Is the project time critical? • outcomes identified, together with their relationships to each other; • credible plans for the achievement of outcomes; and • ongoing commitment from stakeholders to the outcomes and their achievement • ministerial agreement to scope changes 4.3 Are key stakeholders confident outcomes will be achieved when expected? Is it on track to deliver? • confirmation of time-critical issues and a realistic schedule to achieve them; • mechanisms for collecting performance data are in place and a plan for evaluating the impact of the project are in operation; • the project board is confident that planned milestones will result in good quality deliverables that will deliver the necessary outcomes; and • a commitment from key stakeholders that project deliverables will achieve the desired outcomes. 4.4 Is there a plan for achieving the required outcomes? • a benefits management plan and a plan to ensure that outcomes are delivered in terms of performance measures and/or key performance indicators; • plans to identify appropriate baseline measures against which future performance will be assessed; • plans to carry out performance measurement against the defined measures and indicators; • where planned outcomes have not been achieved, evidence the problems have been identified and plans are in place to resolve them; and • clarity on how the objectives from the projects link to the outcomes of the program 5. Risk Management Areas to probe Evidence expected 5.1 Have the major risks been identified? • a current list of the major strategic, political and/or reputation, environmental and legislative risks to the overall project, analysed by likelihood and impact; • early warning indicators identified;
A_Handbook_for_Conducting_Assurance_Reviews_FMR_7.docx