Business today is moving faster than ever. Companies’ goals and objectives are constantly changing in response to new technology, the actions of their competitors, customer demands and new opportunities.

Global competition is reducing the time customers are willing to wait for new features, increasing the pressure on companies to continuously reinvent themselves to stay competitive.

The ability for companies to deliver their goals are impacted by inaccurate planning, problems in project implementation and variances in planned vs. actual benefits.

Effective project and program management ensure that a company’s efforts are aligned to its goals and are adjusted in accordance with industry and market changes. It also provides best practice methodologies and tools to ensure effective monitoring and tracking of a project against its expected benefits.

Without it, businesses will find it challenging to achieve their objectives, it could hurt relationships between customers, employees and investors, and have a material impact on financial performance.

How we help

Project/program management

We implement proven methodologies and tools to ensure efficient program execution, alignment and coordination of key stakeholders and management of risks and issues using an effective standardised approach.

Project/program governance frameworks

We establish robust control and governance around projects and programs of work. The operational ‘drumbeat’ of delivering programs include: reporting structures, planning processes, interdependency workshops, risks/issues management, steering committee establishment and execution.

PMO (Project Management Office)

We bridge the gap between strategy and implementation, working with businesses to ensure initiatives are aligned to strategic objectives, programs are effectively prioritised in achieving value, and resources are properly allocated across the program.

Change management

We work with our clients’ teams to clearly understand the systems and processes requiring change, establish a roadmap to the future state, and work to establish the organisational design to support the change.

Jamie Downs
Get in touch
Partner & National Head of Management Consulting
Jamie Downs
Contact Jamie Downs Learn more about Jamie Downs
Jamie Downs
Contact Jamie Downs Learn more about Jamie Downs
Jamie Downs
Partner & National Head of Management Consulting
Jamie Downs
+61 425 775 350

Case study: Operations transformation

Client challenge
Target Australia was facing stalling revenue and steadily growing costs, with core functions not aligned and working together across the business. The merchandise and supply chain functions were driving significant excess stock volume to stores. Unprofitable stores were driving cost into the supply chain, whilst inefficient distribution centre and transport operations were driving cost.
The solution
The Grant Thornton team worked with the Target Australia leadership team to instigate an end-to-end process alignment and profitability improvement program which we called FACTORY-TO-CUSTOMER. The program was designed to streamline operations from the source of a product throughout its journey into the customer’s hands. Program workstreams included Product Sourcing, Planning, Logistics, Online, Store Operations and IT Systems. Grant Thornton co-designed and led the program, managing the program governance and commercial benefits tracking.
The outcome
The project resulted in: major cost reduction through the supply chain, through improved operations, removal of inefficient process and the incorporation of automation in two major distribution centres; enhanced product margin through streamlined product planning and enhanced stock management driving out excess stock; reduced cost base through consolidation of organisational structure around product forecasting and replenishment.
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Case study: Workforce planning

Client challenge
Client challenge
Client challenge
Super Retail Group had announced a significant underpayment of employees over several years, based on inadequate processes underpinning time and attendance. The client wanted to lock down its compliance in this area, and then explore how improved tools could help them better plan their labour spend to customer demand.
The solution
The solution
The solution
The team at Grant Thornton worked closely with the core HR and project delivery team to establish a process by which the best system solution could be selected, and to develop an investment business case for the Board. The challenge of different processes across the different customer brands of the client added complexity to the project but also offered opportunities to streamline processes and optimise labour cost. We then worked collaboratively with the chosen software vendor to commence the rollout of the new solution across the business.
The outcome
The outcome
The outcome
The project resulted in a fully compliant system and process covering employee time and attendance and significant streamlining of processes which will drive significant labour cost savings.
Read more

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    Meet the team

    Chris Wong
    Chris Wong
    Partner
    Melbourne
    View full profile
    Jamie Downs
    Jamie Downs
    Partner & National Head of Management...
    Melbourne
    View full profile
    Wi Liem Chua
    Wi Liem Chua
    Partner
    Melbourne
    View full profile