The loss of a key person for whatever reason is a blow to any organisation. This is particularly true if that person is not only managing a team but also, as is common today, running one or more projects vital to meeting business objectives. People management and project management are two very different skills; individuals who can handle both well are extremely rare.
When it happens, there are several solutions available; for example:
- Bring someone in that can manage the day to day activities and put the projects on hold
- Hire someone to manage the projects and allocate the day to day management to a different officer
- Find someone who can immediately step into the empty shoes, manage the people and drive the projects.
Socitm Consulting’s Interim Provision offering is the third of these, though we can also provide project and programme managers. We recognise the skills requirement differences between man management and project management. Our consultants are former practitioners who are skilled in managing teams of people and at the same time delivering projects to time and budget.
Some of the projects that our consultants have executed whilst acting as Interim Managers have included:
- Managing the process of appointing an appropriate full time replacement
- Restructuring the department to meet the changing needs of the organisation
- Developing forward strategies and action plans
- Specifying and managing the procurement of outsourced service provision
- Implementing standards and revised procedures across the organisation
- Introducing new technologies such as virtualisation.
Our interim managers are supported by their access to the wealth of Socitm’s knowledge base and its involvement with public and independent sector organisations looking at future needs. Having worked as practitioners they understand the culture, working environment and pressures on people working in these sectors. They also add value by ensuring that there is a knowledge transfer between themselves and client staff.
Appointing an interim manager can ensure that change momentum is maintained, staff stay motivated and working to full capacity, and service to user departments uninterrupted. By taking on an interim manager from Socitm Consulting, you can also reap the benefit of our wider perspective on project and programme management and on best practice, particularly with regard to optimal departmental structures, governance and ICT service management today.
If you would like to discuss how we may be able to help you in this area, please call us on 0845 450 0904, email consulting@socitm.gov.uk or use our online enquiry form.