Portfolio planning in the UK Government faces challenges due to shifting political priorities, finite public resources, and complex delivery landscapes.
Agility is crucial in government portfolio planning to respond coherently and quickly to changes in political leadership and budget constraints.
Frequent ministerial changes and annual budget limitations hinder long-term planning and adaptive decision-making in government portfolios.
Agility allows for adjustments in direction while maintaining coherence and continuity in government portfolios.
Annual budget cycles in central government prioritize in-year spending over cross-year optimization, emphasizing hitting financial forecasts over delivering measurable outcomes.
Agile portfolio management focuses on incremental value delivery rather than annual milestones, de-risking spending decisions by showcasing early impact.
Hypothecated funding in government portfolios limits flexibility, hindering reallocation of funds to maximize public value across different programs.
Agile portfolio planning calls for more flexibility in financial architecture, with pre-approved reallocation mechanisms and broader delegation for responsible governance.
Embedding agile mindsets in government portfolio planning requires decision-makers to value iteration, responsiveness, and learning.
Strategic reviews, empowered portfolio boards, integrated portfolio offices, and value-led metrics support agility in government portfolios.