APM Assurance Specific Interest Group (SIG)
Assurance: The process of providing confidence to stakeholders that projects, programmes and portfolios will achieve their objectives for beneficial change.
About this SIG
The effective operation of assurance provision and use of assurance information are essential to the reliable delivery of successful projects. Assurance is an essential element of project management, working closely with governance and risk management in a mutual supportive arrangement.
The word ‘assurance’ means different things to different people, though, depending on the field of interest. For some, it’s about achieving quality, for others it’s about being sure what they are told is correct, whilst for many it’s about being confident that ‘things are under control’. The variety of meanings is reflected in the ways of achieving assurance in projects, including: quality assurance, safety audits, gateway reviews, independent engineer reviews, internal audits, project audits, contract audits, external audits, peer reviews, control self- assurance, etc. In addition, different types of assurance require different skills which need to be quantified, enabled and supported in different ways.
All of these types of assurance are actually trying to do the same thing, the only difference between them being the perspective of the practitioner. They need to work in an integrated fashion, to avoid conflicts or gaps, to provide a comprehensive and holistic output. Good project assurance is not only passive. Done well, it actively assists projects to be successful.
About this SIG
The effective operation of assurance provision and use of assurance information are essential to the reliable delivery of successful projects. Assurance is an essential element of project management, working closely with governance and risk management in a mutual supportive arrangement.
The word ‘assurance’ means different things to different people, though, depending on the field of interest. For some, it’s about achieving quality, for others it’s about being sure what they are told is correct, whilst for many it’s about being confident that ‘things are under control’. The variety of meanings is reflected in the ways of achieving assurance in projects, including: quality assurance, safety audits, gateway reviews, independent engineer reviews, internal audits, project audits, contract audits, external audits, peer reviews, control self- assurance, etc. In addition, different types of assurance require different skills which need to be quantified, enabled and supported in different ways.
All of these types of assurance are actually trying to do the same thing, the only difference between them being the perspective of the practitioner. They need to work in an integrated fashion, to avoid conflicts or gaps, to provide a comprehensive and holistic output. Good project assurance is not only passive. Done well, it actively assists projects to be successful.
Committee
Gary Poole: Chair
Dave Lovitt: Secretary
Mushtaq Ali: Committee member
Nigel Bennett: Committee member
Peter de Horsey: Committee member
Martin Elsner: Committee member
Julian Harris: Committee member
Roy Millard: Committee member
Judd Norton: Committee member
Toby Robins: Committee member
Roger Smith: Committee member
Pamela Stacey: Committee member
The committee have monthly virtual meetings and each quarter one face to face. If you are interested in hearing more please contact us to get in touch.
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Get involved in developing new approaches to providing assurance, sharing good practice and exchanging ideas.
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Featured resources
Measures for Assuring Projects
The assurance assessment toolkit is intended as a reference for assurance practitioners to help provide a measure of their confidence in the potential for a project (or programme or portfolio) to succeed.
A Guide to Project Auditing
What is an audit, why do we undertake project audits and how does it differ from other assurance methods? The answer to these and other related questions can be found in the latest APM publication, A Guide to Project Auditing.
Featured book - A guide to Integrated Assurance
A Guide to Integrated Assurance enables organisations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their assurance activities.
Written by APM’s Assurance Specific Interest Group, the guide identifies important roles and responsibilities as well as tools and templates to help overcome ‘silo-oriented approaches’ to assurance that do not naturally result in integration.
Buy now or download free (for members only) Not a member? Join today
Blogs by this SIG
What is the value of assurance?
6 November 2019
17 April 2019
How do behaviours impact project assurance?
19 November 2018
RAG status: using the tool the best way
8 September 2020
RAG Status: a tool not a weapon
4 August 2020
10 June 2020
News by this SIG
30 October 2019
13 June 2019
29 April 2019
15 April 2019
11 August 2020
9 July 2020
22 April 2020
14 February 2020
Webinars and events
Hosted by our online community, our SIGs and Branches are offering free lunchtime webinars. Covering a wide range of topics to support the project profession, please explore the full programme using the events listing below and sign up for free today.
View all APM webinars and events
Any forthcoming webinars or events by this SIG will be displayed here:
Looking to volunteer?
APM’s Branch and Specific Interest Groups are at the heart of a vibrant community of volunteers shaping the profession and raising its profile.
All members are welcome to contribute in the numerous activities that our Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) and Branches get involved in all year round.
Contact this SIG
The committee have regular virtual meetings. If you are interested in hearing more please contact us via email or complete the following form.
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