FAQ3

Benefits Assurance arose from the series of projects which formed the Cranfield Information Systems Research Centre’s ‘Benefits from IT-enabled Change’ stream of research. It is deeply embedded in the tradition of Benefits Management [note 1]. Refer to our References page for a list of the key sources that have stimulated my thinking and a list of the reports, papers and articles that I have written with Andrew Davies.

The need for new thinking about the management of e-change projects emerged from discussions with the Cranfield Information Systems Research Centre’s sponsoring membership that highlighted a somewhat negative view of ‘risk management’ when handled by ‘traditional’ approaches to the subject. A research project was carried out during 2002-3 with the aim of developing an approach for dealing with the intrinsic uncertainties of e-change such that it contributed in a positive and pro-active manner to the realisation of the planned benefits from e-change projects.

I led this research project with Andrew Davies and we reported our findings in a Cranfield Information Systems Research Centre Research Report. We subsequently left Cranfield and continued to apply and further develop the Benefits Assurance approach through our consultancy, research and training assignments with e-change Training Limited. Although Andrew has since retired and we have wound up e-change Training Limited, I continue to develop the approach through my private research and practice.

Note 1: The theory and practice of Benefits Management have been developed and presented by my friend and colleague, Professor John Ward, initially with Phil Taylor and Peter Murray and, more latterly with Professor Liz Daniel.

John and Liz have written up the topic in their book, "Benefits Management, Delivering Value from IS & IT Investments", Wiley (2006), ISBN 0-470-09463-X.

However for many years, the prime source for Benefits Management was the Cranfield Information Systems Research Centre report, "Benefits Management Best Practice Guidelines", ISRC-BM-200001, Information Systems Research Centre, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, which went through a number of versions from the mid-1990s until John and Liz committed Benefits Management to book form.