|
Problem |
Response |
|
Partners are reluctant to commit to action. |
Identify levers / incentives, e.g. evidence of public concern, costs and benefits. Review steps needed to seek/reinforce senior management commitment within key agencies, and to keep agencies informed of relevant developments. |
|
Responsibility for implementation is unclear |
Assign responsibilities to a named individual. Review/clarify roles and responsibilities of partnership/individual agencies and other stakeholders. |
|
The programme drifts and is underachieving |
Review reporting systems. Set clear milestones for performance of key tasks. Review commitment of partner agencies. Strengthen agreement between agencies if necessary. Look at ways of increasing project ‘ownership’. |
|
Project leadership is weak |
Ensure the project leader has the time, commitment and skills to do the job, and identify training/development needs. As well as project management skills, project leaders need the ability to work across traditional agency boundaries and operate in unknown/unpredictable areas. |
|
The project leader moves job |
Ensure key decisions and action points are documented. Spread the work to guard against becoming too reliant on one person. |
|
A key partner fails to deliver |
Challenge non-delivery. Strengthen agreement between agencies if necessary |
|
Results don’t come through |
Review analysis of problems and causes. Check option appraisal and that the right conditions are in place for the project to work as intended. Check the action plan is appropriate and well-founded. |
|
There is low community participation |
Check community perceptions of the initiative. Identify aspects of the project with greatest community appeal. Deploy community development staff Review communications plans |
|
Partners lose interest |
Review approaches used (e.g. networking between meetings/teambuilding) to keep partners enthused and motivated. Ensure the project integrates with other local activities. |
|
Conflicts develop in the partnership |
Use techniques e.g. soft systems analysis to identify sources of conflict and areas of agreement. |