Assurance of Action Plans (AAP)

What is AAP?

Assurance of Action Plans (AAP) is a new OGC-led assurance tool for high-risk projects and programmes. Short and sharp, AAP re-assesses Delivery Confidence in the light of the action plan drawn up in response to a Gateway Review, or other OGC assurance, where Delivery Confidence has been assessed as red or amber/red. 

AAPs are OGC-led and are carried out in partnership with Government Departments for the benefit of SROs. The service looks to ensure that Delivery Confidence in projects is raised to an appropriate level that will enable delivery of aims to time, cost and quality.

We have extensively piloted AAP during the first half of 2009. SROs who participated in the pilots identified clear benefits delivered by AAP. The pilots showed that AAP provides SROs and stakeholders with assurance that the action plan is likely to increase Delivery Confidence. Conversely, AAP can also provide early warning that a plan still falls short of what is required. The pilots also demonstrated that AAP promotes a structured response to OGC recommendations, helping project teams focus on adequately addressing the key factors undermining delivery confidence.

How does AAP work?

AAP works by providing a review of the action plan developed in response to a Gateway Review (or other OGC-led assurance), usually within three months of the preceding assurance. An AAP includes a desk review of the action plan and associated key documentation, and interviews with half-a-dozen or so key members of the project team and stakeholders. The team is led by a member of OGC Major Projects Directorate, supported by one of the team from the preceding Gateway or other OGC assurance and a representative drawn from the client Department - often from the Centre of Excellence.  The AAP team is on-site with the client Department for one day, and at the end of that day produces a report for the SRO which includes a re-assessment of the project's Delivery Confidence.

How can your projects benefit from AAP?

We now have a robust model and process and from this autumn OGC will be offering AAP to all high-risk projects where an OGC Gateway has resulted in a Delivery Confidence of red or amber/red. We see AAP as being a useful assurance tool within any integrated and comprehensive project assurance framework.

For further details, please contact Richard Kelly: richard.kelly@ogc.gsi.gov.uk

For further information on effective project assurance, see www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Effective_Project_Assurance.pdf