ABSTRACT
An effective performance management system fulfils two critical functions. It is used to translate the strategic intent into clear and meaningful terms to assist leaders communicate the strategy to everyone involved in the project, or programme of projects. It also provides feedback about progress being achieved towards the business goals. This flow of information enables decision-makers to continually appraise the project based on fact and data to ensure its success. It enables the original strategic assumptions within the business case to be tested and adjusted in the light of emerging issues. Performance management is a systematic approach to help manage and lead the delivery of projects, linking business goals developed in the planning stage to overall project outcomes. Benchmarking should be used to establish performance targets as part of a continuous improvement process to ensure that the programme remains at the forefront of best practices, continually raising performance expectations.
