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Managing Projects

Organise to Manage

In particular project management might require a re-examination of organisational structure, skills and resources.  

It is quite likely that a project has already got a dedicated sub group working on it and that they have been instrumental in raising the funds for the project.  However once funds have been obtained there will be a need for the organisation to review just how it is going to manage the project as opposed to just raising the funds.  

If it is a capital project - for example the building of a play park or a new hall - the organisation has to decide carefully how to manage their relationship with the contractors and architects and how progress is monitored, both in terms of the physical works and in terms of finance and budgets.    It may be that there is a need to organise to meet more often; to be able to influence on site decision making, and deal with problems quickly.   To be able to carry out this level of management it may be that the community need additional expertise or resources for the duration of the project.

If it is a project that involves ongoing management - for example the provision of care services or the operation of a facility or the running of regular activities  - then the organisation is just as likely to need to gear itself up to meet this challenge.  It may even take on the responsibility for recruiting and employing staff. The need to employ staff, or manage large sums of money may also require a rethink about the legal status of the community organisation; making it worthwhile for the organisation to incorporate as a company (for further information see the section on Constitutions) or even establish a trading subsidiary company.