eWater CRC – delivering Australia’s next generation of water management tools
As a Cooperative Research Centre, or ‘CRC’, eWater CRC was established to deliver new water management tools to the Australian and international water management sector.
eWater CRC approached Apis at a time when the organisation was moving from its initial establishment phase into one of product development and delivery. Apis was tasked with assisting the organisation through this transition and putting in place tools, processes and frameworks that would allow it to achieve mission critical corporate objectives.
Reviewing the organisational structure of the CRC, Apis delivered a suite of key recommendations for business enhancement – recommendations that would enable the operation to achieve it’s objectives in a fully accountable, proactive and transparent manner. Of the recommendations, several were then implemented by Apis.
Another initiative involved a ground up design of a comprehensive project management framework for more streamlined delivery of eWater projects. Delivery of water management products to market is core business for eWater, so effective project management is a critical pillar to eWater’s success. Apis was charged with the design and development of an enterprise wide project management framework. This was done in a way that remained sympathetic to existing processes within eWater projects, and accounting for large number of CRC partner organisations contributing to these projects. Apis assisted eWater in the uptake and application of this for the benefit of each of eWater’s flagship projects.
The effects were immediate. eWater project directors noted rapid improvement in project planning and governance activities. Board reporting was significantly improved, and better informed management decisions resulted. Apis introduced and facilitated an innovative approach of Rapid Health Checks on each project, and developed an effective monitoring and evaluation system.
With fit-for-purpose tools now in place, eWater has made the transition out of establishment phase, and is now well placed to deliver to it’s partners in an accountable, transparent and timely manner.
“Nigel Nutt and his team at Apis quickly understood our needs for better professional project management, and vertically integrated performance reporting. Most importantly, Apis developed a solution that was perfectly tailored for our unusual corporate structure and staff relationships. This was important, as there was great potential for cynicism and disengagement amongst key staff, who are mostly academics and researchers with little or no familiarity with, or interest in, project and performance management. I was very pleased to observe that our staff quickly grasped the benefits of the new Apis framework, rather than just seeing it as another ‘administrative overhead’
Apis’ performance reporting framework, for the first time, has also allowed us to link performance evaluation and reporting at Project, Senior Management and Corporate level in single integrated scheme.
As CEO, I have been extremely satisfied with the work that Apis has done for eWater, and with their personal, bespoke approach. I know my Board is also pleased with the improved quality and simplicity of performance reporting. I would not hesitate to offer my strongest recommendation to any R&D organisation seeking to bring more professional strategic and operational practices into their organisations, in manner that is sympathetic to their needs, not just a ‘one size fits all model’ that so many consultants seem to offer.”
Gary Jones
Chief Execuitve
eWater CRC (eWater Limited)