Working within a formal project structure

In today´s highly competitive operating environment electricity distribution companies are under considerable pressure to deliver customer service improvements and business benefits quickly. These benefits, mainly valued in terms of reduced operating expenditure and deferred or avoided CAPEX, are often realised from the implementation of large, complex, technical projects requiring strong project management. ScottishPower´s Power Systems Division has several such projects that have necessitated a change in working culture towards a formal project environment. This paper outlines the evolution of one of these projects and demonstrates the benefits gained from adopting a formal structure. It achieves this with reference to a practical example, the Distribution Automation Project that is currently in delivery phase