Video recordings of the day

There were three morning sessions

1. Introduction to Project X

This initial session of the day reflected on the genesis of Project X and the evolution of thinking about plans for a more sustainable future for project delivery research. The speakers were Terri Harrington (National Highways), Professor Andrew Davies and Professor Paul Nightingale (University of Sussex).

2. Panel: Transitioning to Net Zero & Implications for Project Delivery

We are at an important point in history; the recent IPCCs report revealed ‘code red for humanity’ with the warmest weather on record since 1850. This autumn COP26 must revisits pledges to mitigate global warming where infrastructure is responsible for approximately 70% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. In response to this the Civil Engineering profession in the UK has pledged to champion technological innovation and new thinking to replace and retire carbon intensive infrastructures. In turn, industry champions, such as Turner Townsend are also seeking to embed Net Zero into project delivery plans. However, post pandemic recovery plans are founded on infrastructure growth and record levels of strategic investment (especially highways). These points raise substantive questions about how best to “build back better” and how to manage trade-offs between sustainable development and balanced green growth. Our panel of industry and government champions to debated how these challenges might be addressed.  This session was hosted by Mike Lewis, Professor of Management at the University of Bath who acted as the chair for the debate. We had an exciting panel of speakers; Rachel Skinner, the President of the Institution of Civil engineers; Peter McGettrick, Director of Advisory Turner & Townsend; Matthew Vickerstaff, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Head of Project Finance, Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

3. Panel: Reflexive Practitioner and Building Skills for the Future

The session drew on two recently published reports by the National Audit Office (NAO) and the Association of Project Management (APM). Emma Willson from the NAO discussed the NAO’s recent report drawing lessons from its work across a range of government programmes delivered at speed. Academics from Sussex (Dr Rebecca Vine and Phillippa Groome), Brighton (Dr Dicle Kortantamer) and Newcastle (Dr Jas Kalra) shared their findings from a suite of in-depth case-studies in a recent report published by the APM ‘Rethinking capabilities: lessons for policy, scholarship and practice’. This session was hosted by Dr Fiona Spencer, Director of Function, Profession and Standards within the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. It was moderated by Paul Nightingale, Professor of Strategy and Associate Dean for Engagement at the University of Sussex Business School.

Then the conference continued with a welcome back session with Gill Evans (HM Revenue & Customs)

We then had four parallel sessions:

1. Capabilities session

The capabilities session considered the implications of the Transforming infrastructure Performance - Road Map to 2030 report on organisational capability. The session brought together a team of Project X researchers and IPA strategy and performance experts chaired by Vedran Zerjav. Initially the IPA explored the thinking behind the new Built Environment Model that features in the TIP report. This led to a discussion about the collection, sharing and analysis of data and the way that delivery models with alternative governance and contracting arrangements can support innovation, productivity and better whole life outcomes. This was followed with a lively discussion amongst Project X researchers and the IPA about the systems context for the built environment, delivery models and opportunities to improve performance and enable organisational change.

2. Governance session

This session showcased the research on Governance and Assurance undertaken by Project X. We look at the nature of different governance frameworks and mechanisms required for different projects and project settings. There is also a major difference between the governance of fixed and moving goal projects. In particular, when the outcome of a moving goal projects cannot be fully specified. Our findings suggest that effectiveness has to trump efficiency to deliver outcomes and desired benefits.

3. Data session

This session was concerned with data quality for effective project delivery. Work undertaken by the project Praxis group at the University of Warwick focusses on the use of project data analytics (PDA) to improve project delivery performance. By fully utilising the capability of Project Data Analytics, it has been estimated that an annual saving of £23bn could accrue on the delivery of large infrastructure projects. The session started with a brief introduction to project data analytics, what it is and what it does. It described how it has been used in the private sector and will delineate the barriers and enablers that have been encountered there. We then examined a Delphi exercise currently being undertaken with the IPA to understand the data needs of SROs delivering major projects and programmes across UK Government. This exercise is investigating ‘critical points’ in delivery and using them to tease out what data was needed, what data was available and what predictive data it would have been useful to generate.

4. Benefits session

This session explored the benefits and disbenefits of PFI initiatives within the prison reform agenda in England and Wales. This work builds on extensive research into benefits governance, reporting and realisation.  It also builds on previous research into cross-national benefits management (BM) in Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA that revealed the prominence of political interests, leadership buy-in, culture, reporting and governance mechanisms in benefit management practice.

The final session was Major Projects - lessons from the Public Accounts Committee

The speaker was Dame Meg Hillier, MP Chair of the Public Accounts Committee. The session, chaired by Richard Kirkham explored lessons learnt and Seven Deadly Sins. There was a Q&A with Prof Paul Nightingale considering learning from citizen engagement, importance of engaging with MPs and expectations of academics providing select committee evidence.