What to Look for in a Delivery Framework That Actually Works For Local Government

When clients approach us, it’s rarely their first attempt at “getting delivery right.” Many bought off‑the‑shelf models that didn't fit, spent a small fortune on consultants who took capability with them, or layered more processes, more systems and more governance - only to find the same problems resurface.

I've seen first-hand how the wrong approach can make a mess of all the right ingredients; and how the right approach can transform not just delivery outcomes, but team confidence too.

This blog isn’t about selling you our solution. It’s about helping you ask better questions so you can spot the difference between a framework that works for you, and one that works for a vendor’s business model.

If you're evaluating your options, I hope this gives you a clear view of what good looks like.

Introduction

Implementing a programme delivery framework is not just about compliance – it’s about enabling and future-proofing your organisation’s capability. For many councils, this need comes at a time of escalating demand, tight resources, and high public scrutiny. The pressure to deliver has never been greater but neither has the risk of being underprepared and underequipped.

Not all frameworks are created equal. Some make your delivery more efficient and more effective. Others create new layers of admin, more confusion, and even greater consultant dependence. So how do you know what will actually work?

Here’s how to separate the lasting value from the short-term fixes and what to look for as you evaluate your options.

How Generic and Pre-Made Frameworks Fail Local Government

Pre-made or packaged frameworks are a great idea - set pricing, proven performance, etc - if they fit your organisational needs off-the-shelf. If not, and usually they don’t, then be prepared for some potentially heavy modification, configuration, rewriting of processes, retraining of staff, migration of data, and all the headaches that come with significant change management. Implementation is key to success, here! And the more that a framework needs to be tweaked to fit your organisational needs, the more expensive and risky implementation becomes.

With some frameworks, their language fails to align with organisational and sector terminology, while others require an established PMO with project management maturity before it can be ‘dropped-in’. That’s not the reality for most New Zealand councils.

Common issues with pre-made frameworks include:

• Over-engineered templates that present more complexity than required

• Rely on new platforms not already in use by the organisation

• Require your organisation to fit the framework, instead of the framework fitting your organisation

• Limited localisation to policy, risk profiles, or reporting lines unique to New Zealand’s regulatory environment
  

Instead of supporting capability-building, they often entrench expert external support dependency, a key problem many councils are trying to solve, and a cost they are trying to avoid.

Key Criteria for a Fit-for-Purpose Programme Delivery Framework

If you’re evaluating a new programme delivery framework, here’s what to look for:

1. Scalability Across Departments
   The right framework should work not only for capital projects and not only for today. The foundations and capability that it brings should be transferable to other departments and other use cases. Look for models that are modular, not hardcoded.

2. Software Agnostic (Use What You Already Have)
   Avoid solutions that require purchasing new software - this requires staff to learn unfamiliar tools and can be difficult to detach from once embedded. A fit-for-purpose framework should leverage existing platforms like Microsoft Teams or SharePoint, where your teams already work.

3. Embedded Induction & Training Content
   Capability building is not a handover PowerPoint. A strong solution includes onboarding guides, visual workflows, and embedded support so new staff can become productive quickly.

4. Minimum Clicks
   Every click counts. Having key information when and where your team needs it, with minimal clicks and navigation, means that your framework will be used, and will therefore stand the test of time. Look for a solution that is simple to navigate and places tools and templates at the user’s fingertips. It should reduce cognitive load, not add to it.

5. Standard-Aligned
   Frameworks grounded in recognised standards (e.g., ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and 31000) create a pathway to certification and make it easier to demonstrate compliance during audit. They also use a universal language which is important to getting everybody on the same page.
   

Red Flags to Watch Out For

When considering framework options, keep an eye out for these warning signs:

• Will require writing many new processes you didn’t think you needed

• Training material is generic or only provided in the form of PDFs or one-off sessions

• Seem ‘impressively’ big or complex

• Assume high levels of PMO maturity

• Don’t offer the tools to maintain and improve the framework internally.
  

Questions to Ask When Evaluating a Solution Provider

Use these questions to evaluate programme delivery framework providers during your procurement or scoping process:

1. How does your framework integrate with our existing tools?

2. Can we scale this framework across multiple departments?

3. What happens after your engagement ends – who owns the knowledge?

4. Do you provide embedded onboarding tools and training resources for new staff?

5. Can you demonstrate success in similar local government environments?

6. How do you ensure sustainability without creating consultant dependency?

7. Is your solution aligned with recognised standards (e.g., ISO 9001 or 31000)?
   
   

Case Study Preview: HBRC – What Good Looks Like

After Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) faced a massive scale-up in capital programme delivery from $5M-$15M annually to over $250M to be delivered over four years. They needed a framework that:

• Could onboard ~50 new staff rapidly

• Leveraged existing software

• Delivered end-to-end lifecycle visibility across all project phases

• Reduced reliance on consultants

• And could be delivered within budget

Touchstone’s work with HBRC created a sustainable framework that enabled the council to scale with confidence and speed during a high-pressure recovery programme.

This is the kind of transformation that’s possible with the right framework - not just one that ticks boxes, but one that genuinely builds capability.

Stay tuned for Blog 4: What Scalable Governance Actually Looks Like in Practice.  In our next post, we’ll move beyond evaluation and into real-world execution—sharing what a sustainable, consultant-free governance model actually looks like on the ground. If you’ve ever wondered whether councils can truly scale delivery without growing external dependency, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Blog 1: The Hidden Challenges Undermining Capital Project Success in Local Government

Blog 2: The Hidden Cost of Doing Nothing in Capital Programme Delivery

Blog 3: What to Look for in a Governance Framework That Actually Works for Councils

Blog 4: What Scalable Governance Actually Looks Like in Practice

Blog 5: From Chaos to Capability – How Councils Build Long-Term Value with the Right Framework