Creating a Benefits Value Chain - Aligning Project Deliverables to Organisational Strategy

When defining a project plan ensure that you are able to show the alignment of the project deliverables (the outputs and outcomes) to the organisation's business strategy.

An example is if the organisation has a strategy to reduce inpatient waiting times (hip replacement surgery for example).

• strategy = to reduce inpatient waiting times
• outcomes = improved theatre utilisation; improved theatre throughput
• outputs = revised theatre schedule; improved theatre planning; reduced time in recovery; better discharge planning
• project = efficiency review of theatres and discharge planning

Here you can see that there may be a number of outputs to achieve a number of outcomes, all of which may contribute to achieving the desired strategy. Once you can show the links along this "Benefits Value Chain" (and start measuing the benefits being delivered), you can more easily gain support (and finance) for your project.