Tools & Techniques
There are a wide variety of techniques which can be used to help develop ideas and thinking in a Programme or Project Management (PPM) environment. Many of these tools have been around for a long time and originated in areas not directly related to PPM. We have gathered together and provided links to several of the more common techniques and plan to expand this resource over time. If you have found any other techniques particularly useful in your own Programmes or Projects, please let us know .
If any of the following diagrams are not accessible or you require an alternative format, please contact us at coe@dfpni.gov.uk
| Technique | Brief Description |
|---|---|
| SWOT | Use to draw out the organisational context in terms of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats |
| RACI | Use to describe Roles and Responsibilities in a variety of contexts including Programmes and Projects |
| Stakeholder Matrix | Use to map stakeholders in terms of their importance and potential impact on Programme or Project activity |
| Cause & Effect Diagram | Also known as fish-bone diagram, use to represent event causes and potential impacts |
| Risk Map | A simple representation of risk in terms of likelihood and impact |
| Summary Risk Profile | Use to plot risk and provide a single point of visability for information contained in the risk register |
| Decision Tree | Decision Trees are useful tools for helping you to choose between several courses of action |
| Radar Chart | A radar chart is also known as a spider web chart. In a radar chart, a point close to the centre on any axis indicates a low value. A point near the edge is a high value |
