Project Toolkit

Benefits Review

Benefits Review

Assessing whether the project has delivered the expected benefits.

Benefits Review

Benefits review assesses whether the project has delivered the expected benefits and value outlined in the business case.

Purpose

Benefits review ensures:

  • Benefits are tracked and measured
  • Value delivered is understood
  • Lessons are learned for future projects
  • Accountability for outcomes
  • Business case is validated

Benefits Lifecycle

flowchart LR A[Identify
Benefits] --> B[Plan
Realisation] B --> C[Track
Progress] C --> D[Review
Achievement] D --> E[Report
Outcomes] classDef blue fill:#108BB9,stroke:none,color:#fff class A,B,C,D,E blue

When to Review Benefits

Timing Purpose
During project Track progress toward benefits
At closure Initial assessment of delivery
Post-implementation (3-6 months) Early benefits realisation
Post-implementation (12+ months) Full benefits realisation

Types of Benefits

Type Description Examples
Financial Monetary value Cost savings, revenue increase
Efficiency Productivity gains Time saved, faster processing
Quality Improved outcomes Fewer errors, better service
Compliance Meeting requirements Regulatory compliance
Strategic Enabling capability Market positioning

Benefits Review Process

Step Activities
1. Gather data Collect metrics and evidence
2. Compare to baseline Measure against starting point
3. Assess achievement Determine % of benefits realised
4. Analyse variance Understand gaps or overachievement
5. Document lessons Capture what worked and what didn’t
6. Report outcomes Communicate to stakeholders

Measuring Benefits

Benefit Type Measurement Approach
Cost savings Compare costs before and after
Time savings Measure process duration
Quality improvement Track error rates, defects
Customer satisfaction Survey scores, NPS
Compliance Audit results, certifications

Benefits Realisation Report

Section Content
Executive summary Key outcomes at a glance
Benefits planned What was expected
Benefits achieved What was delivered
Variance analysis Explanation of differences
Lessons learned Insights for future
Recommendations Actions to improve realisation

Benefits Tracking Template

Benefit Target Actual Variance Status
Reduce processing time 50% reduction 45% reduction -5% Amber
Cost savings £100k/year £120k/year +£20k Green
Customer satisfaction +10 NPS +8 NPS -2 Amber

Common Challenges

Challenge Mitigation
No baseline data Capture baseline before project starts
Benefits not measurable Define SMART benefits upfront
Attribution difficult Isolate project impact from other factors
Benefits owner unclear Assign benefit owners from start
Review not done Schedule reviews in project plan

Roles and Responsibilities

Role Responsibility
Project Sponsor Accountable for benefits realisation
Benefit Owner Responsible for specific benefits
Project Manager Enable delivery, track progress
Business Analyst Define and measure benefits
Finance Validate financial benefits

Benefits Review Checklist

  • Benefits baseline established?
  • Measurement approach defined?
  • Data collected?
  • Achievement assessed?
  • Variance analysed?
  • Lessons captured?
  • Report produced?
  • Stakeholders informed?
  • Follow-up actions identified?
Last updated: 13 January 2026
Themes

Closure

Benefits