Delivering Fast Effective Projects

Applying problem structuring and project management tools to fast and effective project (FEP) delivery in public services.

Join us on The PSC's Delivering Fast Effective Projects training programme

We are running an upcoming open course: 22-24 October 2024

"The most useful training I've received in my career."

3 or 4 days, in-person or virtual

Delivering Fast Effective Projects (FEP) focuses on applying problem structuring and project management tools to support fast and effective project delivery in public services. Suitable for policy and delivery professionals alike, participants learn and practise a range of structured tools and approaches to navigate demanding project environments and achieve results.

Our facilitators are all experienced consultants at The PSC who use these tools and approaches on a daily basis with their public service clients.

The course is highly interactive, and covers the following modules:

Module 1 – Launching the project
Module 2 – Structuring the problem & planning the work
Module 3 – Engaging stakeholders
Module 4 – Developing hypotheses
Module 5 – Gathering data & conducting analysis
Module 6 – Gathering data & interviewing
Module 7 – Using continuous improvement methods (Plan-Do-Study-Act)
Module 8 – Appraising options & carrying out modelling
Module 9 – Developing insight & making recommendations
Module 10 – Implementing the project
Module 11 – Communicating recommendations & closing the project

We recognise that there’s a lot for participants to take in during this intense course. And we also know that the most valuable personal and organisational development happens when participants apply their learning to their everyday work environment and when they share their favourite FEP frameworks and tools with their colleagues. That's why we run an optional fourth day, scheduled four to six weeks after the initial course, to revisit course material and practically use the FEP tools in the context of real-life projects that participants are working on.

This course can also be supplemented by a follow-up mentoring programme which further supports participants to practically apply the tools and approaches in their day-to-day work - and to help other colleagues do the same.

You can find further details about the individual modules and course materials below.

"Our staff really enjoy FEP and gain a lot of valuable skills, tools and experience during the week. We aim to mirror the interactive elements of this training in our own learning and development in the team."

—
Heather Watson-Humphreys, Deputy Head of Operations, Projects Task Force, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

"I really enjoyed FEP and found the three days incredibly helpful. The sessions were excellently structured, paced and delivered, and the mix of presenters was engaging... I have already made use of a number of the frameworks explored as standalone tools, and am looking forward to applying the full FEP method to my next project! "

—
Niamh Mac Namee, Chief Operating Officer, Patchwork Foundation

"I will be using these tools in the future - I wish I had done this training earlier."

—
Julian Gladwin, PMO Business Development Officer, City Health Care Partnership

"Sophie and Nouha were fantastic, so engaging and knowledgeable. A really enjoyable and insightful 3 days. The course content was excellent, with really useful and applicable frameworks, which I have not always experienced before. The D5 cycle is a really useful and concise framework that I will use to identify phase of project/ programme and what needs to be done. I will also be using hypotheses tree and Pugh matrix to strengthen decision making processes."

—
Laura Simpson, Head of Programmes, upReach

"I thought that all three facilitators were superb. Really enthusiastic, fun and engaging. Really enjoyed the role play situation, and I felt I left with lots of bits of new knowledge, from products, to interview skills, to Excel training. Thanks very much for a really engaging three days."

—
Course Participant