PBOPlus - Business Change Manager

Responsibilities of the business change manager

The BCM is responsible for:

- Ensuring the interests of the sponsoring group or Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) are met by the program

- Obtaining assurance for the sponsoring group or SRO that the delivery of new capability is compatible with the realization of benefits

- Working with the project manager to ensure that the work of the project, including the scope of each project, covers the necessary aspects required to deliver the products or services that will lead to operational benefits

- Working with the project manager to identify projects that will contribute to realizing benefits and achieving outcomes

- Identifying, defining and tracking the benefits and outcomes required of the project 

- Ensuring that maximum improvements are made in existing and new business operations as groups of projects deliver their products into operational use

- Leading the activities associated with benefits realization and ensuring that continued accrual of benefits can be achieved and measured after the project has been completed

- Establishing and implementing the mechanisms by which benefits can be delivered and measured

- Taking the lead on transition management, ensuring that business as usual is maintained during the transition and the changes are effectively integrated into the business

- Preparing affected business areas for transition to new ways of working

- Optimizing the timing of the release of project deliverable into business operations

Skills and attributes needed to be a business change manager

The individual appointed as BCM should:

- Be drawn from the relevant business areas - their participation in the project should be an integral part of their normal responsibilities to enable changes resulting from the project to be firmly embedded in the organisation

- Have detailed knowledge of the business environment and direct business experience - in particular, they need an understanding of the management structures, politics and culture of the organisation owning the project

- Have effective marketing and communication skills to sell the project vision to staff at all levels of the organisation