Getting the Return: Our Experience in Driving Project Value

Lucille Tut
22 minutes ago
3 min read

Measure what matters

Solve the right problem

Spend where it counts

Focus on outcomes, not activity

Build for the long term

Stop wasting time. Start delivering.

We hear the word "value" every day but in a business context its meaning can be elusive. At its simplest, if you aren't getting back more than you put in you aren't delivering value.

Too many organisations pour time and money into projects where the returns never materialise. Usually, this is because the "value" was never defined, measured or tracked.

Here is how we ensure your initiatives deliver meaningful results.

Measure what matters

You cannot manage what you do not measure. To know if you are making progress, you need a baseline. Ideally, you take this measurement at the start of a project, but it is never too late to begin.

We focus on two types of data:

Quantitative: e.g. Performance metrics, uptime or cost reductions.
Qualitative: e.g User research, customer feedback and stakeholder satisfaction.

Without these metrics you are just guessing. Data allows you to prove that your delivery is moving the needle in the right direction.

Solve the right problem

It is rare for a project to finish with the exact same requirements it started with. Markets shift, regulations change and technology evolves.

To ensure the outcome matches the need you must have regular checkpoints. We ask two critical questions throughout the lifecycle:

Are these requirements still valid?
Is what we are building actually going to meet them?

Failing to pivot when requirements change results in a polished product that nobody needs. We prioritise being "fit for purpose" over "sticking to the original plan."

Spend where it counts

Resources are always finite. To get the best return you must focus effort on the areas of highest benefit.

When priorities compete there are various techniques we use to determine where the money is best spent. These include:

Cost-Benefit Analysis: Comparing the expected costs of a decision against its total expected benefits.
Risk of Inaction: Assessing what happens if we do not deliver a change. Will it increase technical debt, risk a compliance breach, or frustrate the end-user?

Reviewing the impact, probability and severity of potential outcomes provides the clarity needed for a sensible decision-making process.

Focus on outcomes, not activity

We prioritise deliverables over "vanity metrics." While some consultancies focus on Scrum points or velocity we know these can be easily gamed. They tell you how fast a team is moving but not if they are moving in the right direction.

We focus on milestones and goals agreed with the people doing the work. A successful project is measured by the positive change it provides to the business, not the number of tickets closed.

Build for the long term

Projects should be building blocks for a larger goal, such as entering a new market or migrating to better tech.

A good roadmap delivers value at every stage. This modular approach means that if a project has to pause, the work already completed still provides a benefit. We avoid "gold-plating" features that will soon be superseded, ensuring every pound spent contributes to the bigger picture.

Stop wasting time. Start delivering.

Delivering value is our passion. We have seen too much capital wasted on poor decision-making and misaligned resources.

At Next Phase Consultancy we help you avoid these common traps. If your projects aren't hitting the mark, let’s have a straight-forward chat about how to get them back on track.