Make Smarter Choices, Execute Better
This is how WDODelta professionalizes its projects.
The Drents Overijsselse Delta Water Board (WDODelta) ensures a safe, sufficient, and clean water supply in cities and nature areas. It does this by managing rivers, canals, ditches, wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, weirs, dikes, locks, and wharves. In this way, WDODelta contributes to a safe and healthy living environment. To support more professional portfolio management, WDODelta chose Fortes Change Cloud.
438
Pump stations
22
Municipalities
1,020
km of dikes and quays
800
employees
About WDODelta
WDODelta’s service area roughly extends from Deventer to Assen and from Kampen to Hoogeveen. Approximately 639,000 people live in this area, spread across 22 municipalities. The area covers 255,105 hectares.
There are approximately 800 employees. The organization consists of an executive board, support services, and 9 departments, divided into two programs:
- Water
- Operations
Source: WDODelta; The Water Board is also responsible for the quality of recreational water
Source: WDODelta; Rietberg Pumping Station
The Project
Like many government organizations, WDODelta is undergoing a digital transformation. This transformation makes it necessary to be more selective. Which projects can be undertaken, which cannot be undertaken at this time, and which ones take priority? To this end, the Information Services department took the first step toward portfolio management, using a simple spreadsheet as a tool. This approach proved effective. By setting priorities, goals were achieved more quickly. To further professionalize its operations, WDODelta chose Fortes Change Cloud
Better-informed and more effective
“Unlike in the past, decisions regarding project selection and timing are now better substantiated, and we are more effective and efficient.”
Learning-Based Approach
WDODelta opted for a learning-based approach. According to Helga de Boer of WDODelta, this has proven to be a valuable choice. “It is precisely by gaining experience as quickly as possible and gradually adjusting both the approach and the structure based on our findings that we are making significant progress. Instead of trying to figure everything out perfectly from the start—only to discover that reality is actually quite different—we began with a set of basic agreements.”
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Download the full case study
In our comprehensive case study, you can read more about
- WDODelta’s approach to professionalization
- The consultation structure
- The lessons learned from this project for other portfolio managers
