Effective Project Governance for ICT Managed Service Providers (MSP)

Managing an ICT project can sometimes feel like trying to herd cats—while juggling flaming torches. One moment, everything is smooth sailing, and the next, you’re firefighting issues that seem to spring out of nowhere. If that sounds all too familiar, it might be time to take a hard look at project governance.

Here’s the deal: Project governance isn’t just for enterprise firms. Even small to medium ICT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) need a robust framework to steer projects to success. When project governance is working well, it’s the difference between crossing the finish line with grace or collapsing over it in a cloud of stress. Especially if you have tight margins on your professional services cost.

Let’s break down some common challenges ICT MSPs face when they struggle with governance, and how addressing them can help transform your projects into well-oiled machines.

1. Why Am I Constantly Firefighting Midway Through the Project?

There’s nothing quite like the panic of an unexpected issue blowing up halfway through a project. But here’s the kicker: many of these fires are preventable. If you’re always on the back foot, putting out metaphorical (or literal) fires, it’s likely because your governance structure isn’t proactive enough.

Strong project governance establishes clear escalation paths, risk management strategies, and regular health checks. This means fewer surprises, less firefighting, and more energy spent where it should be—driving the project forward.

Humorous Insight: Think of it like a fire alarm system—without one, you’re just waiting to smell smoke before you start running. A solid governance framework pulls out the extinguisher before the flames get out of control.

2. Why Are Projects Not Meeting the Timeframe?

Ah, the dreaded project timeline. You’ve made the plans, charted the milestones, and then—bam!—the deadline looms, and half the work is still in progress. Missed deadlines often stem from unclear responsibilities, scope creep, and poor communication—symptoms of weak governance.

Project governance ensures roles are clearly defined and that there’s a process for scope changes. By holding regular governance meetings and tracking progress against set milestones, you can catch deviations early and course-correct before they become deadline killers.

Humorous Insight: Remember, a project timeline isn’t an abstract work of art; it’s more like assembling IKEA furniture. Skipping a step or misunderstanding the instructions can leave you with extra pieces and no time to fix it!

3. Who Owns the Project Governance Responsibility?

Here’s a question for the ages: Who’s in charge of keeping this project on the rails? The simple answer; Everyone has a role in governance, but responsibility should rest with the project manager and key stakeholders. Without a central figure to steer the governance ship, chaos reigns.

A successful governance model identifies the decision-makers and keeps them accountable for the project’s progress. But this doesn’t mean they go it alone; they need to delegate governance activities across the team to ensure all aspects of the project stay on course.

Humorous Insight: Think of it like a relay race. If you’re the only one holding the baton, you’re not running a team race—you’re just running… and running… and burning out.

4. What Should a Project Sponsor Expect?

A project sponsor is like the project’s godparent—responsible for ensuring it thrives, but they shouldn’t have to change its diapers. Their job is to provide direction, resources, and alignment with broader business objectives. In other words, they’re there to make sure the project delivers the intended benefits.

Good governance means the project sponsor should be regularly informed about progress, risks, and key decisions without needing to micromanage. Their focus should be on strategic oversight rather than day-to-day operations.

Humorous Insight: A project sponsor should expect regular updates, not babysitting duties. They’re there to cut ribbons, not tie shoelaces.

Conclusion: Govern or Be Governed by Chaos

Effective project governance isn’t just a corporate buzzword—it’s the foundation that keeps your projects on time, on budget and (mostly) stress-free. Whether you’re a small MSP or a larger player, setting up a clear governance framework can transform your projects from chaotic firefights to smoothly executed plans.

So, the next time you’re deep in the trenches, ask yourself: Is this an issue with the project, or with the governance? Fixing the latter might just save you from grabbing that fire extinguisher.

At UA Consultants, we specialize in helping ICT businesses implement effective project governance so that you can focus on what you do best. Whether you’re managing small projects or large-scale deployments, we can help you put governance structures in place that prevent the chaos before it begins.

If you’d like to discuss your options over a coffee to structure your project governance give us a call.