Senior Management Commitment

Senior Management Commitment is one of the most important pre-requisites to get an IT programme or project to start working effectively and efficiently from the start. It must continue all the way through the project. This commitment must be published to all the stakeholders associated with the programme or project - from business directors and users to project team members. It is particularly important that business directors champion the project and that it is made clear throughout the business organisation that the directors support all of the project's objectives.Senior management must be confident that there will be a positive outcome from a successful implementation. The Business and IT directors must be able to demonstrate to all stakeholders that there will be a fair return on investment and that there will be customer service, productivity and business efficiency improvements realised from a successful conclusion. Senior managers usually form a steering committee to monitor the progress of the project against the plan and budget. The steering committee also convenes to approve any change to the objectives, business purpose or budget of the project.