Blog

Managing ImpleMentAll

Thu. 28. Feb 2019 00:00

As most of our readers will know, ImpleMentAll is a fairly large and complex project with aims tapping into implementation science as well as psychology and the provision of mental health care. The many processes going on at once further complicate the project, which leads us to the theme of this blog; the management of IMA and what it takes to keep a complex project successful.

First of all, successful management of a project like IMA requires a global and in-depth view of the processes of the project work plan, including ongoing and coming activities. The experienced and skilled coordination team, consisting of Kim Mathiasen, Christiaan Vis, Mette Atipei Craggs, and Carmen Ceinos (and until April 2020, Claus Duedal Pedersen), is managing the plan and  providing  support to  the consortium in all the aspects that may have an impact: from the specific financial or scientific perspectives, to the operational activities.

The coordination team has produced a project handbook, which is essentially a condensed version of Annex 1 to the Grant Agreement. The handbook provides a short and concise version of the project plan, including a general overview of the project, the management and coordination structure, communication tools and procedures, quality control and assurance, and, last but not least, reporting.

The handbook also functions as a management tool, keeping the whole consortium up to date on what their tasks are and what is expected of them. As a reference work, the consortium partners can use the handbook to look up work plans, timelines, and the structures of the various work packages.

Along with pens, leaflets, and other merchandise, the project handbook is part of IMA’s communication material collection, contributing to the dissemination of our project. It provides a clear and well-structured presentation of the project and serves as a source of deep insight into the project, when we attend conferences and congresses to share the knowledge of IMA and implementation science in general.

IMA Project and Communication Manager, Mette Atipei Craggs: “The project handbook as a concept has evolved over a couple of EU-funded projects that this coordination team has been leading. We now find it an essential tool in steering the project towards its ambitious goals and making sure that no activity is overlooked and that we make every deadline on time.” 

The handbook is a living document that must reflect the changes the project is facing during its lifetime of 51 months. We are already in the second version incorporating the changes produced in the first 18 months, where the first major amendment was pushed through.

Do you want to know more about management of IMA or maybe even receive a copy of the project handbook, then please feel free to write us either directly or in the comments below!