A professional association in the Urban Planning sector wanted to strengthen how it managed projects and delivered strategic outcomes. The initiative was led by a CEO who had previously achieved success with a similar transformation in another organization.
After seeing the benefits of a structured approach to strategy delivery, the CEO turned to us again to help build a Strategy Delivery Office (SDO) that would improve efficiency, accountability, and alignment across all strategic initiatives.
Client: Professional association in the Urban Planning sector
Scope: Establishment of a Strategy Delivery Office (SDO) and project management framework
Focus Areas: Strategic alignment, governance development, capability building, and organizational change maturity
Results: Stronger project delivery culture, improved portfolio visibility, better collaboration, and greater leadership confidence
The organization lacked a formal structure for managing projects, making it difficult to coordinate initiatives and connect them to strategic goals.
Key challenges included:
No established project management processes or standard practices
Limited visibility into project progress and alignment with business objectives
Lack of coordination between sponsors and project teams
Need for a project management culture suited to the association’s size and mission
The CEO sought expert guidance to introduce project management discipline, align leadership and staff, and build the foundation for an effective Strategy Delivery Office.
We worked closely with the organization’s leadership to design and implement a Strategy Delivery Office tailored to its goals and culture. The project began by understanding the organization’s priorities and then developing the capabilities, tools, and structure needed for sustained performance.
Key actions included:
Setting up a Strategy Delivery Office with a clear purpose, structure, and role within the organization
Conducting training and coaching to develop project management skills among staff and leaders
Teaching teams how projects directly support strategic outcomes
Supporting the SDO leader’s participation in the IMPACT Engine System program to strengthen leadership and delivery capabilities
Creating opportunities for peer collaboration and knowledge sharing with other global project management professionals
Over 12 months, the team gained the skills, structure, and confidence needed to manage the organization’s growing portfolio of projects effectively.
The collaboration produced strong, measurable improvements in how the organization manages and delivers its strategic work.
Key results included:
Stronger Leadership Insight: The SDO gave leaders a clear view of ongoing initiatives and their impact, allowing better prioritization and decision-making.
Improved Governance: Portfolio management practices created better visibility across teams and reduced overlap.
Better Communication: Teams gained a shared understanding of project goals and progress, improving collaboration.
Sustained Growth: The organization developed the skills and processes to manage projects more effectively, setting the stage for continued success.
The Strategy Delivery Office now serves as the central hub for managing strategic initiatives, ensuring projects are aligned, transparent, and value-driven. This transformation strengthened the organization’s ability to deliver on its mission and better serve its members.
