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QSO-680-X1489 Seminar in Project Management 22… TM

Before you begin this discussion, analyze the PMIⓇ report The High Cost of Low Performance.

Figure 1: Current State of Project Outcomes shows that only 62% of strategic initiatives meet

their original goals and business intent, a number that has remained relatively static over the past

five years. The report goes on to note the significant disparity in financial loss per project

between low-performing companies and high-performing companies.

Again, in this discussion, draw on your own experience in a business organization you currently

work for or have worked for in the past. If this option is not a good fit for you, you can research

an organization for this discussion.

Address the following:

Describe the value of the project management function in a business organization.

What are the key factors that make a difference in managing projects successfully to meet

key deliverables on time and on budget?

What project management practices used by high-performing companies could be

replicated by others?

Provide a specific example from your own experience or from business news reports in

which a project has gone over budget and deadline and identify a few project management

“best practices” that may have prevented the project failure.

In response to peers, build on the examples and best practices they have presented. What other

ideas can you provide that may have prevented the project failure they described?

To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric PDF document.

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Project management brings value to an organization in a variety of ways including reducing

costs, maximizing efficiencies, providing a competitive advantage, and driving strategy. Project

management reduces costs and improves efficiencies in a variety of ways. First at a portfolio

more

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The High
Cost of

Low

Performance
How will you improve
business results?

8th Global Project Management Survey

Customers want the best products and services. Employees want better salaries.
Executives want growth. If we can’t have perfection, we all want progress. But we
know it’s hard to deliver consistently positive results in an uncertain and continually
shifting global marketplace.

Organizations that invest in project management waste 13 times less money because
their strategic initiatives are completed more successfully. We know project
management is essential for any organization’s success, yet the message is not
being realized.

As we reviewed this year’s Pulse of the Profession® data, we were hoping to see
improvement over last year’s results. Instead, we saw declines in many of the success
factors we track. Even more concerning, the percentage of projects meeting their
goals—which had been flat for the past four years—took a significant dip.

To examine this situation further, we surveyed executive leaders and PMO directors
as part of this year’s Pulse research and found that, although many individuals are
beginning to sharpen their focus on project management as a strategic driver, their
organizations aren’t always in step.

Until leaders throughout organization hierarchies trust that projects deliver strategy, I
fear we will continue to see stagnant progress. And that means organizations will be
less successful than they should be. It will take some work, but it can happen if we
take a collective approach to help shift the thinking.

Use this report and other PMI research to strengthen conversations about the
quantifiable benefits project management delivers to organizations. Help drive the
transformational thinking needed within your organization—because it’s together
that we can do great things.

Mark A. Langley

PMI President and CEO

Drive Better Results
with Project Management

1

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

LOOK BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILLS

While technical skills are core to project and program management, they’re simply not enough in today’s competitive
global economy, which is growing quickly, but with less predictability. The most successful organizations seek added
skills in leadership and business—competencies that support and sustain long-range strategic objectives. The ideal
skill set—a combination of technical, leadership, and strategic and business management expertise—is embodied in
the PMI Talent Triangle™. When organizations focus on all three skill sets, 40 percent more of their projects meet
goals and original business intent.

RECOGNIZE THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF AN ENTERPRISE-WIDE
PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE (EPMO) AND ALIGN IT TO STRATEGY

By supporting the implementation of strategic programs, EPMOs play a crucial role in delivering organizational
value. Yet, for many organizations, a struggle exists to define the PMO role, to position it for long-term success,
and to leverage the office to help achieve strategic objectives. Effective EPMOs have a broad enterprise-wide
responsibility and help direct strategy and focus on value delivery. Organizations that align their EPMO to strategy
report 27 percent more projects completed successfully and 42 percent fewer projects with scope creep.

DRIVE SUCCESS WITH EXECUTIVE SPONSORS

With actively engaged executive sponsors, organizations can bridge the communications gap between influencers
and implementers to significantly increase collaboration and support, boost project success rates, and reduce risk.
When more than 80 percent of projects have an actively engaged executive sponsor, 65 percent more projects are
successful. Yet, on average, only three in five projects have engaged executive sponsors.

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

more projects
meet goals and original
business intent

© 2010–2016 Project Management Institute. All rights reserved.

SUMMARY FINDINGS
Our latest Pulse research shows that compared to last year, fewer projects are being completed within budget or meeting original

goals and business intent. More projects are actually failing and creating significant monetary loss for their organizations. The

reasons are complex. But with worsening project outcomes, disruptive global trends, and an uncertain economy, it’s time to

strengthen the conversation around the following issues, which our research indicates are essential to improving both project

and business results.

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

EXECUTIVE AND PMO HEADS PERCEIVE PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIFFERENTLY

Executive leaders and PMO directors do not view organizational success and the benefits of project management
in the same way. They have significantly disparate views about their organization’s performance when it comes to
formulating strategy, prioritizing and funding projects, executing strategic projects, and recognizing lessons learned.
Additional gaps in perception exist between the benefits of using formal project management and improving
risk identification and management, success with complex projects, customer satisfaction, and success with
organizational change.

EXECUTIVES AND PMO LEADERS ARE BOTH OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE

Executive leaders and PMO directors agree on the importance of improving their competitiveness over the next
three years. Eight in ten executive leaders and PMO directors agree they will achieve that by formulating strategies
appropriate for changing market conditions, prioritizing and funding the correct initiatives and/or projects, executing
initiatives and/or projects in a way that delivers strategic results, and using lessons learned from failed projects to
inform strategic planning.

In addition to tracking the annual trends in project management, we also spoke directly to executive leaders and PMO directors

to capture their perspectives on why we aren’t seeing higher project success rates. This year’s report draws on our global

survey of 2,428 project management practitioners, 192 senior executives, and 282 PMO directors from a range of industries,

and interviews with eight corporate leaders and 10 PMO directors and directors of project management. From this research,

we have made the following key discoveries:

2,42

8

Project Management
Practitioners

192

Senior Executives

282

PMO Directors

4

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Value
Just over half of organizations fully understand the value of
project management, a number that has remained the same
over the past five years.

PMO
The percentage of organizations with a PMO has also
remained the same for five consecutive years, with nearly
seven in ten having a PMO. Furthermore, the types of PMOs
in organizations have remained unchanged since we began
tracking them six years ago; two-thirds of organizations report
having a department-specific, regional, or divisional PMO(s),
and nearly half of organizations report having an EPMO.

Practices
Nearly six out of ten organizations use standardized project
management practices throughout most or all of the
enterprise. But only one in four uses standardized project
management practices organization-wide, a decline of three
percentage points from one year ago.

Training and Development
The percentage of organizations providing project
management training on tools, competency development,
and a defined career path remains unchanged since 2012. Just
under half of organizations report having a formal knowledge
transfer process—a decline of 5 percent since last year.

Executive Sponsors
The average percentage of an organization’s projects with active
sponsors declined compared to last year: only 59 percent of
projects on average have actively engaged executive sponsors.

Strategy Alignment
Less than half of organizations report high alignment of projects
to organizational strategy, a number that has been fairly
constant for the past three years. And, organizations report
that, compared to last year, fewer of their projects are strategic
initiatives—that is, projects designed to achieve formulated
strategy (an average of 48 percent of projects, down from 54
percent in 2015).

Maturity
The percentage of organizations with high project management
maturity has not changed for the past six years. Program and
portfolio management are equally established in organizations,
with only one in six reporting the high maturity of each.

Benefits Realization
The percentage of organizations reporting high benefits
realization maturity is at 17 percent, static for the past three
years. And, the percentage of organizations reporting low
maturity in benefits realization is trending upward—nearly four
in ten now report low maturity.

THE CHALLENGE
Our 2016 Pulse findings continue to reinforce that when organizations embrace project, program, and portfolio management
practices, they have better outcomes. Yet, we see little or no change in a number of key capabilities, including:

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20

12

6

0%

70%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

2013 2014 2015 20

16

6

4%

5

5%

15%

34%

44%

5

1%

6

2%

Met original goals/business intent

Completed within original budget

Completed on time

Experienced scope creep

Failed project’s budget lost

Deemed failure

5

3%

1

6%

3

2%

45%

4

9%

Figure 1: CURRENT STATE OF PROJECT OUTCOMES

The lack of improvement within these capabilities coincides with weaker project
outcomes. Fewer projects are meeting original goals and business intent or being
completed within budget. More projects are failing and creating substantial monetary
loss for their organizations (see Figure 1).

More critical is the money that continues to be wasted when projects aren’t managed
well. We see US$122 million wasted for every US$1 billion invested due to poor project
performance, a 12 percent

increase over last year.

With little movement in key data points over the past five years, and a regression in the
percentage of projects reaching goals, something definitely needs to change.

PMI has conducted the Pulse study since 2006 to provide evidence that implementing
strategy successfully is inextricably linked to an organization’s capability to
deliver successful projects and programs. As we continue to see worsening project
outcomes, disruptive global trends, and an uncertain economy, we want to advance
the conversation. We want organizations to shift their thinking and embrace project
management as a strategic competency for success. Throughout this report, you will
discover approaches to addressing this ongoing challenge.

More critical is the money that

continues to be wasted when

projects aren’t managed well.

We see US$122 million wasted

for every US$1 billion invested

due to poor project

performance, a 12 percent

increase over last year.

6
P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

“There’s a lot more that you have to pay attention to as an organization
and therefore the projects have to do the same,” said Norm Fjeldheim,
Senior Vice President and CIO at Qualcomm.

Other trends that will have an impact on project management include:

There’s a lot more
that you have to
pay attention to as
an organization and
therefore the projects
have to do the same.”

“

Norm Fjeldheim | Senior Vice President and CIO

Qualcomm

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

THE WORLD AROUND US
Despite a global economy that is still uncertain and the rapid evolution of new business trends, we find many examples of

project, program, and portfolio managers who deliver value to their organizations and help them stay relevant and competitive.

As the global advocate for the profession, we continue to track a number of universal trends impacting project management.
Disruptive change is prevalent. The acceleration of technology and digitization, including the Internet of Things and social media,
has created a hyper-connected, borderless world, with new industries and opportunities for project and program managers. And
the number and complexity of projects are increasing, a fact recognized by alert executive leaders.

Cost of energy is falling as new shale oil and gas deposits are
discovered, developed, and exploited with advanced extraction
technologies, once again making the development of new oil and
gas fields a project-rich environment.

Globalization has improved business conditions in emerging
and advanced economies, triggering investments in infrastructure
development projects in many low- and middle-income
economies.

Climatic processes are approaching tipping points, and
scientists and engineers are beginning to assess the feasibility
of several geoengineering “quick fixes.” This will lead to the
proliferation of a vast array of new projects.

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REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Organizations and project professionals can capitalize on—not merely react to—the trends outlined previously. As these and

other developments usher in change and create more projects, the demand for skilled and experienced project and program

managers is on the rise. This environment of new opportunity further underscores the need for organizations to support project

management as a strategically significant discipline.

71%

52%

of projects meeting original goals and
business intent when project management
culture is high priority

of projects meeting original goals and
business intent when project management
culture is low priority

Project management
has been one of
the linchpins of our
turnaround over the
last couple of years.
The discipline has
made our product
and technology
deployments faster
yet less impactful to
customers.”

“

Peter Stern | Executive Vice President,
Chief Product, People and Strategy Officer
Time Warner Cable

Yet, our research shows that just over half of organizations fully understand the
value of project management and less than two in five place a high priority on
creating a culture that recognizes its importance as a driver of better project
performance. Organizations that place a high priority on creating this culture
report 71 percent of projects meeting original goals and business intent versus
52 percent that place a low priority on it. These results would likely not surprise
the executives we interviewed who agree that a cultural mindset that values
project management is vital to the business.

“Project management has been one of the linchpins of our turnaround over the
last couple of years,” said Peter Stern, Executive Vice President, Chief Product,
People and Strategy Officer at Time Warner Cable. “The discipline of project
management has made our product and technology deployments faster yet at
the same time less impactful to customers, enabling us to post a gain last year
of a million Internet customers and, for the first time in years, a net gain in video
customers despite facing new, aggressive competitors.”

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Our research further reinforces the tangible and intangible value
project management provides to an organization, including risk
reduction and cost saving. Over the years, analysis of our Pulse data
shows that high-performing organizations have implemented proven
project, program, and portfolio management practices. As a result,
their projects meet original goals and business intent two-and-a-half
times more often (89 percent versus 34 percent) and waste 13 times
less money.

Peter Panzarella, Chief Procurement Officer at Pitney Bowes, believes
project management is especially important when working cross
functionally. “We found it helpful in creating a standardized way
to talk to our internal stakeholders,” he explained. “And we also
found it much easier to report on the status of programs internally
and to create a formal review process if we were using standardized
methodologies and templates, and evaluating stages of the programs
under uniform structure.”

“Without a doubt, good project management drives more
success, lowers the risk, and increases the chance of success

for delivering the economic value of the project.”
Bill Seliger, PMP

Director, Supply Chain and Project Management
Fortune 500 manufacturing company

PROJECTS ARE 2.5 TIMES MORE SUCCESSFUL
WHEN PROVEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES ARE USED

vs.89% 34%

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

A SHIFT IN THINKING
With the deep and long-proven benefits of project management, we have to ask: Why isn’t this value being realized in project

outcomes and reflected in this year’s findings?

As we work to strengthen the conversation and encourage new thinking among organizations less advanced at project

management, we can pinpoint the following elements that distinguish more mature organizations that achieve better results.

THEY LOOK BEYOND TECHNICAL SKILLS

The dynamic, rapidly changing, complex business environment continues to emphasize the
need for excellence in project, program, and portfolio management. And, while technical skills
are core to project and program management, it’s even more critical to develop additional
leadership, and strategic and business management skills.

Organizations can help develop project and program managers who are versatile, experienced,
and skilled. Yet less than one in three currently prioritize the development of technical,
leadership, or business skills (see Figure 2); only 25 percent consider all three skills a priority.

Figure 2: PRIORITY OF DEVELOPING PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP BUSINESS

100%

50%
0%

Very high

Somewhat high

Moderate

Somewhat low

Very low

13%

2

7%

32%

19%

2

9%

27%

33%

18%

2

8%

26%

33%

19%

10% 10%

11%

30%

12% 11%

10

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Qualcomm is among the vanguard of organizations that actively point to project
and program management as a critical skill set. “We recognize it as a career
path that people can take all the way up,” said Mr. Fjeldheim. “It leads into a
management track, which can go all the way to director or senior director and vice
president … We recognize it as being a very important skill that is critical to our
success as an organization.”

Organizations with a similar mindset want project, program, and portfolio
managers with a broad range of skills to support long-range strategic objectives.
The ideal skill set is depicted in the PMI Talent Triangle™—a combination of
technical, leadership, and strategic and business
management expertise (see Figure 3).

When organizations focus on all three areas, 40 percent more projects meet
original goals and business intent. Additional improvements are realized in
managing budget, time, scope creep, and projects deemed failures (see Figure 4).

MET GOALS/
INTENT

WITHIN BUDGET ON TIME SCOPE CREEP PROJECTS DEEMED
FAILURES

Priority of all three is very or somewhat high Priority of all three is very or somewhat low

71%
64%

61%

38%

13%

53%

21%

35%38%
51%

100%

80%

60%

40%
20%
0%
© 2010–2016 Project Management Institute. All rights reserved.

The PMI Talent Triangle™
Figure 3

Figure 4: IMPROVE PROJECT OUTCOMES WITH THE RIGHT SKILLS

We recognize
[project management]
as a career path that
people can take all
the way up … a very
important skill that is
critical to our success
as an organization.”

“

Norm Fjeldheim
Senior Vice President and CIO
Qualcomm

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Met goals/intent

Within budget

Scope creep

Projects deemed
failures

On time

Has all four

Has none of the four

71%

54%

34%
54%
13%
21%

65%

42%

63%

38%

Sudhakar Kesavan, Chairman and CEO at ICF International, Inc., sees an increasing need for skilled professionals. “We are doing
more training across the firm to make sure people understand that project management is a learned skill,” he said, adding that an
organization can’t just make decisions as they go along. “The more project management expertise we have, the less likelihood of
complications with the client, overruns and cost issues,” he continued. “We need to train people so that we can have fewer issues
with projects as they are run.”

Our Pulse findings reflect Mr. Kesavan’s thinking. Project outcomes
are significantly better in organizations that invest in ongoing project
management training, offer a defined career path to those engaged in
project or program management, and establish formal processes to develop
project manager competencies and to transfer knowledge, when compared
with organizations that invest in none of these (see Figure 5).

“The more project
management
expertise we have,
the less likelihood
of complications
with the client,
overruns and
cost issues.”
Sudhakar Kesavan | Chairman and CEO
ICF International, Inc.

Figure 5: IMPROVE
PROJECT OUTCOMES WITH TRAINING

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

42%
less

MET GOALS/
INTENT
WITHIN BUDGET ON TIME SCOPE CREEP PROJECTS DEEMED
FAILURES

High Alignment Low Alignment

71%

62%

59%

38%
13%
54%

17%

41%

47%

56%

100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%

27%
more

THEY RECOGNIZE THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF AN EPMO AND GET IT ALIGNED TO STRATEGY

By supporting the implementation of strategic programs, PMOs play a crucial role in delivering organizational value. Organizations
that have a PMO with a broader business-wide responsibility, such as the EPMO, are closest to delivering such value.

With responsibility to align projects and programs to corporate strategy, the EPMO establishes and oversees appropriate governance
of enterprise projects, programs, and portfolios, and performs portfolio management functions to ensure strategy alignment and
benefits realization. As previously noted, organizations that align their EPMO to strategy report 27 percent more projects completed
successfully and 42 percent fewer projects with scope creep (see Figure 6). Yet, less than half of organizations surveyed have an
EPMO and only 44 percent of those EPMOs are highly aligned to the organization’s strategy.

Overall, a well-aligned EPMO can boost performance. In addition, EPMOs and PMOs can:

Free executives to think strategically. Rather than being bogged down in project details, executives
can focus on strategic alignment.

Increase strategic flexibility. A PMO creates the capacity to select the projects best suited to each
moment.

Drive business growth through customer satisfaction. A PMO increases the chance that projects
will be delivered on time and on budget, which provides tangible value to customers.

Improve decision making. Organizations can better evaluate the benefits and risks of individual
projects in the context of the entire portfolio.

Figure 6: IMPROVE PROJECT OUTCOMES WITH AN ALIGNED EPMO

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

THEY DRIVE SUCCESS WITH EXECUTIVE SPONSORSHIP

Effective executive sponsorship is critical to the success of an organization’s strategic initiatives—an executive sponsor’s active
engagement is actually the top driver of project and program success. When more than 80 percent of projects have executive
sponsor support, 65 percent more projects are successful (76 percent versus 46 percent, see Figure 7). Despite this finding, only
three in five projects have engaged executive sponsors.

Met goals/intent Within budget

Scope creep Projects deemed
failures

On time

66%
40%

62%

36%

76%

46%

10%
21%
40%

48%

Has executive
sponsor support

Does not have executive
sponsor support

Effective executive sponsors have thorough knowledge of a project and how it connects to business strategy. And owing to their
position and experience, they have the necessary skills and authority to clear roadblocks, the confidence to make quick and effective
decisions, and the influence to champion the project with senior management and position it as a top priority. The best executive
sponsors can also motivate and engage a project team.

Figure 7: IMPROVE PROJECT OUTCOMES WITH ACTIVE SPONSORS

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P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Formulate strategy appropriate for changing market conditions

Prioritize and fund the appropriate initiatives/projects

Successfully execute initiatives/projects to deliver strategic results

Feed lessons from successful strategy back into strategy formulation

Feed lessons from failed strategy back into strategy formulation

Executive Leaders

PMO Directors

83%
59%

68%
35%

67%

34%

78%

55%

74%

59%

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

STRENGTHEN THE CONVERSATION TO IMPROVE SUCCESS

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE TOGETHER

Ultimately, an organization’s success is not simply the
result of making sure the right tactical elements are in
place, it also requires that everybody be on the same
page. Strong project management comes from leaders—
at all levels—who foster an environment that encourages
flexibility and innovation. Their goal is to develop and
support the project, program, and portfolio teams that
will turn their ideas and vision into real results.

However, we see a gap in how executive leaders and
PMO directors perceive organizational success and their
organization’s performance in formulating strategy,
prioritizing and funding projects, executing strategic
projects, and identifying lessons learned (see Figure 8).

All change in an organization happens through projects and programs. When a project and program management
mindset is embedded in an organization’s DNA, performance improves and competitive advantage accelerates.
Strengthen the conversation around the importance of project management and the issues essential to improving
project and business results—the right skill set, the EPMO, and executive sponsors. Spark the discussion around the
strategic importance of project management with these essential points:

Project management empowers people, rather than restricts them.
Project management encourages innovation by facilitating teamwork and collaboration.
Project management helps organizations fulfill client objectives without risking their own profitability.
Project management practices, implemented from day one, improve the chances of delivering a project
on time and on budget.
Project management practices serve as a valuable competitive advantage.

Figure 8: SUCCESS IN PERFORMING EACH
ACTIVITY LAST THREE YEARS (EXCELLENT/GOOD)

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Further perceptual gaps exist around the benefits realized by use of formal project management to improve risk identification
and mitigation, success with complex projects, customer satisfaction, and success with organizational change (see Figure 9).

We also see a disconnect in how project management is viewed within an organization. Almost three-quarters of executive leaders
feel their organization fully understands the value, whereas less than half of PMO directors feel the same. The disparity suggests that
organizations aren’t truly embracing a culture of project management—further proof that it’s time to strengthen the conversation
in a way that reinforces its strategic value.

Higher organizational agility

Greater cost savings

Improved risk identification and mitigation

Competitive edge

Better success with organizational change

Improved customer satisfaction

Return on investment is met or exceeded

Faster time to market

Improved success with complex projects

Higher revenues/profits

41%

61%

23%

63%

39%

31%

37%

57%

38%
50%

45%
40%

33%
31%

45%
37%

29%

32%

23%
27%

Executive Leaders PMO Directors

Figure 9: BENEFITS OF FORMAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT

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With these ongoing challenges, the good news is that the
executives we spoke to are actively building the awareness
of project management and its potential to deliver better
business results. They are setting an example for other
organizations that are less certain of the benefits—or less
certain of how to invest in project management.

“Good project managers are highly valued,” said Mr.
Fjeldheim, “whether they are in IT or in engineering. If they
are effective at being able to get the job done, then they
are viewed very positively within the organization and in
demand.”

“If [project managers] are effective at being able to
get the job done, then they are viewed very positively

within the organization and in demand.”
Norm Fjeldheim | Senior Vice President and CIO

Qualcomm
P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

STRENGTHEN THE CONVERSATION TO IMPROVE VALUE
Spark the discussion around the strategic value of project management with these proven practices:

Embrace project and management as a strategic competency that reduces risks, cuts costs, and
improves success rates.
Invest in leadership and strategic and business management skills for project managers, in addition to
technical skills.
Align the EPMO to organizational strategy and recognize that all strategic initiatives are projects

and programs.

Engage executive sponsors and ensure they can commit to meaningful support of project teams.
Work together—executive leaders, PMO directors, and project managers—to make a difference by
supporting the investment in project, program, and portfolio management.

INVEST

ALIGN

ENGAGE

COMMUNITY

17

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

91%
88%

83%
74%

82%
81%

88%
91%

90%
93%

Formulate strategy appropriate for changing market conditions
Prioritize and fund the appropriate initiatives/projects
Successfully execute initiatives/projects to deliver strategic results
Feed lessons from successful strategy back into strategy formulation
Feed lessons from failed strategy back into strategy formulation
Executive Leaders PMO Directors

Figure 10: IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING COMPETITIVENESS
OVER NEXT THREE YEARS (ESSENTIAL/VERY IMPORTANT)

Despite the challenges, it is encouraging that senior executives and PMO directors share optimism about the future, agreeing
on the importance of improving their competitiveness in the next three years. Eight in ten executive leaders and PMO directors
agree that it’s essential to focus on formulating strategies appropriate for changing market conditions, prioritizing and funding the
appropriate initiatives and/or projects, successfully executing initiatives and/or projects in order to deliver strategic results, and
using the lessons from unsuccessful strategy for strategy formulation (see Figure 10).

Mr. Seliger described the advantages of project
management approaches as delivering the intended
business benefit. “That is what it is all about, right?” he
said. “It is interesting because earlier this year I hired a
project management professional in my organization.
Prior to her hire, I would say my business unit was
challenged at managing complex projects, and it was
like a breath of fresh air having a professional project
manager managing projects very well. Her presence is
allowing us to get better support from senior leadership
and actually deliver on our projects, which unfortunately
we frequently failed to do in the past.”

Project managers can be powerful liaisons to leadership
because they present senior executives with the
perspectives of teammates and stakeholders. By sharing
their knowledge with confidence, project managers can
deliver precisely what organizations need—successful
projects that strategically align with business objectives.
Alex Gilbert, Manager, Project Management at a public
utility company, agrees, citing a reason the C-suite
appreciates and supports project management: “When
they have questions, we have answers.”

As project management continues to play an increasingly
important role, senior executives, PMO directors, and
project managers can reinforce that optimistic outlook.
“The project manager is key in getting better value for the
money by running a project efficiently and successfully,”
said Mark Wagstaff, Executive Director, Program Manager
Community at UBS. “I think that the need for project
management expertise can only increase because we
want to change more; we want to do more things.”

18

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

CONCLUSION
Lack of improvement in key organizational capabilities and the decline in others may explain the weaker project outcomes that

we see in this year’s Pulse results. Driving and realizing improvement is possible. In fact, our research reinforces both the tangible

and intangible value project management delivers to an organization, including risk reduction, cost saving, and, of course, more

successful projects and programs. In addition, our research continues to show that when proven project, program, and portfolio

management practices are implemented, projects meet their original goals and business intent far more often, leading us to the

following recommendations.

Advance the thinking internally, including with the C-suite, around three issues essential
to improving both project and business results:

SHIFT THE THINKING

STRENGTHEN THE CONVERSATION

INVEST in leadership and
strategic and business
management skills for
project managers, in
addition to technical skills.

ALIGN the EPMO to
organizational strategy and
recognize that all strategic
initiatives are projects and
programs.

ENGAGE executive sponsors
and ensure they can commit
to meaningful support of
project teams.

Close the gaps between how executive leaders, PMO directors, and project managers
perceive organizational investment in project, program, and portfolio management—and
the business value they deliver.

Embrace project and program management as a strategic competency that reduces risks,
cuts costs, and improves success rates; and recognize that effective project and program
management is vital to surviving the continuing economic uncertainty.

WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

19

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Strengthen
Conversationthe

Although these recommendations are solid, unless internal stakeholders, particularly the C-suite,

fully understand the business value that projects and programs deliver, we aren’t confident there

will be more meaningful and sustained support of the discipline. And that raises concerns about

statistically significant improvements in project and program success factors.

Further research is needed to understand why organizations do not fully appreciate that all strategic

initiatives are projects and programs. We believe this disconnect may result from the fact that

so few organizations monitor and measure the benefits that projects and programs deliver. Our

research confirms that only 17 percent of organizations report high benefits realization maturity,

raising myriad questions about how other organizations determine the business value of projects

and programs.

PMI believes it’s time for organizations to recognize that benefits realization is a central component

of project and program management—it is the means to determine ROI as well as to identify the

many intangible benefits that projects and programs enable throughout the business, including, for

example, issues of customer satisfaction.

We know that when project and program benefits are identified as integral parts of the business

case, and tracked from project initiation through transfer to the business and beyond, organizations

can better ensure they’re delivering business value. In short, having greater awareness of how

strategic objectives are achieved requires a benefits realization process.

In our continuing emphasis on the fundamental importance of project, program, and portfolio

management, we will turn our attention in the year ahead to benefits management as a means

to improve.

20

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

APPENDIX: Section 1

SURVEY RESULTS FROM 2,428 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS (GLOBAL TOTAL)

Q: Does your organization have a Project
Management Office?

Q: What type(s) of PMO does your organization have?
(Select all that apply)

0% 0%20% 40% 60% 8

0% 80%40%20% 60%

Yes

Global Total

Global Total

68% 66%

No 32%

49%

Q: To what extent does your organization use standardized project management practices?

0% 40%20%10% 30%

Department-
specific, regional or

divisional PMO(s)

Standardized practices are used throughout
the entire organization

Standardized practices are used by most, but
not all, departments

Standardized practices are used by some
departments

Standardized practices
are not used

Enterprise-wide
PMO

Global Total

24%

33%
7%

36%

21

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
3%
21%
3%
13%
3%

17%

6%
15%
27%
4%

16%

31%
9%
27%
28%
9%
23%
41%
60%
APPENDIX: Section 1

Q: How often does your organization use each of the following?

0% 100%40%20% 60% 80%

Project performance measures

Risk management practices

Change management practices

Program

management

Resource management to estimate and allocate resources

Internal/proprietary methodologies

Project portfolio management

Earned value management

Waterfall project management practices

Critical chain project management practices

Agile/Incremental/Iterative project management practices

Lean project management practices

Scrum

Agile/Incremental/Iterative program management practices

Agile/Incremental/Iterative portfolio management practices

Six Sigma

Extreme project management practices

Event chain methodology

PRINCE2

Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never

Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Global Total

36% 24% 8%

21% 24%

22%

35% 24% 10%

37% 26%

14%

37% 24% 9%

27% 28% 19%

37% 23% 10%

28% 31% 17%

18% 27% 22%

38% 23% 10%

25% 32% 19%

20% 25% 19%

38% 21% 8%

20% 27% 20%

15% 25% 27%

33% 25%

12%

22% 29% 20%

13% 21% 21%

6% 13% 20%

29%
12%
28%
11%
27%
9%

25%

9%
6%
25%
7%
6%
24%
7%
6%
21%
6%
3%
2%

22

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

Q: Do you believe that your organization fully
understands the value of project management?

Q: Does your organization currently have…?

Global Total
Global Total
APPENDIX: Section 1

Ongoing training for staff on the
use of project management tools

and techniques

A formal process for transferring
knowledge from one part of the

organization to another
(known as “knowledge transfer”)

A formal process to mature
existing project/portfolio

management practices

A formal process for developing
project manager competency

A defined career path for those
engaged in project or program

management

Q: How would you characterize the [project/program/portfolio] management maturity of your organization?

Q: How would you characterize…?

0%
0%
100%
100%
80%
80%
40%
40%
20%
20%
60%
60%

Project management maturity

Program management maturity

Portfolio management maturity

The alignment of the projects you manage
to the strategy of your organization

Your organization’s benefits realization
process maturity level

The agility of your organization

36%
11%
38%
39%
44%

43%

46%
46%

18%

44%
45%
44%
17%
17%
40%
43%
16%
15%

0% 40%20% 60%

Yes
Global Total
55%

No 45%

0% 40%20% 60%

Global Total %Yes

61%
47%
47%
45%
45%

Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding

Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding

High

Medium

Low

High
Medium
Low

23

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
APPENDIX: Section 1

Global Total Mean Percentages

Global Total

Q: In your estimation, what percentage of the projects completed within your organization in the past 12 months…?

Q: Of the projects started in your organization in the past 12 months that were deemed failures, what were
the primary causes of those failures? (Select up to 3)

0%
0%

80%40%

40%30%

20%

20%10%

60%
50%

Successfully met the original goals and business intent of the project

Finished within their initially scheduled times

Finished within their initial budgets

Experienced scope creep or uncontrolled changes to the project’s scope

Project budget lost when a project fails

Were deemed failures

Included project sponsors who were actively supportive of the project

Change in organization’s priorities

Change in project objectives

Inaccurate requirements gathering

Opportunities and risks were not defined

Inadequate vision or goal for the project

Inaccurate cost estimates

Inadequate/poor communication

Inadequate sponsor support

Poor change management

Inaccurate task time estimate

Resource dependency

Inadequate resource forecasting

Limited/taxed resources

Inexperienced project manager

Team member procrastination

Task dependency

Other

62%
41%
29%
29%
53%
37%
28%
32%
14%
49%
38%
45%
31%
31%
26%
26%
16%
30%
30%
22%
12%
59%
21%
9%

24

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
APPENDIX: Section 1

Q: How high a priority is each of the following within your organization?

Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Q: How high a priority is each of the following within your organization?
0%
0%
80%
80%
100%
100%
40%
40%
20%
20%
60%
60%

Development of talent with the necessary
technical skills for the management of projects

Development of talent with the necessary
leadership skills for the management of projects

Development of talent with the necessary
business skills for the management of projects

Creating a culture receptive to
organizational change

Creating a culture that values
project management

Developing strategy implementation
skills among executives

Development of skills for executive
sponsors of projects

Very high

Somewhat high

Moderate

Somewhat low

Very low
Very high
Somewhat high
Moderate
Somewhat low
Very low

13% 27% 32% 19% 10%

12% 27% 33% 18% 10%

11% 26% 33% 20% 11%

Global Total
Global Total

Q: How would you characterize the alignment of
the enterprise-wide PMO to the strategy
of your organization?

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Alignment of
enterprise-wide

PMO to strategy
of organization

Global Total
Global Total

47% 9%44%

Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% due to rounding

High Medium Low

Region of responding organizations

0% 40% 50%20%10% 30%

North America

EMEA

Asia Pacific

Latin America

51%
21%
9%
19%
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% due to rounding
14%
13%
11%
8%
27%
25%
26%
21%
32%
33%
33%
31%
16%
19%
19%
23%
11%
11%
11%
17%

25

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
Global Total

Q: Please select the term that best describes the primary
focus of your organization.

0% 15% 20%10%5%

Information Technology

Financial Services

Manufacturing

Energy

Government

Healthcare

Telecom

Construction

Consulting

Training/Education

Aerospace

Transportation / Logistics / Distribution

Automotive

Food and Beverage

Retail

Pharmaceutical

Mining

Legal

Other
17%
6%
4%
9%
3%
2%
11%
9%
8%
3%
3%
6%
6%
2%
2%
2%
1%

<1%

5%
APPENDIX: Section 1

Q: Which of these includes the total annual revenue
of your organization (US$)?

20%10%0% 30%

$5 billion or more

$1 –$4.999 billion

$500–$999 million

$250–$499 million

$50–$249 million

Less than $50 million

Global Total
30%
16%
8%
14%
23%
9%

Note: Numbers may not sum to 100%
due to rounding

Note: Numbers may not sum to 100%
due to rounding

26

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6

APPENDIX: Section 2

SURVEY RESULTS FROM 192 SENIOR EXECUTIVES

Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding

Q: How would you rate your organization’s success in performing the following activities over the last three years?

Q: How important will improving the various aspects of strategy implementation be to the competitiveness of your
organization over the next three years?

Q: Compared with peer companies, how would you rank your organization on each of the following?

0%
0%
0%
80%
80%
80%
100%
100%
100%
40%
40%
40%
20%
20%
20%
60%
60%
60%

Formulating strategy appropriate for changing
market conditions

Prioritizing and funding the appropriate
initiatives/projects

Successfully executing initiatives/projects in
order to deliver strategic results

Feeding lessons from successful strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation

Feeding lessons from failed strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation

Formulating strategy appropriate for changing
market conditions

Prioritizing and funding the appropriate
initiatives/projects

Successfully executing initiatives/projects in
order to deliver strategic results

Feeding lessons from successful strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation

Feeding lessons from failed strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation

Financial Performance

Strategy Formulation

Execution of the formulated strategy

Excellent

Good

Fair

Somewhat poor

Poor

Essential

Very Important

Somewhat important

Minimally Important

Not at all important

Well above average

Somewhat above average

Average

Somewhat below average

Well below average

Senior Executives
Senior Executives
Senior Executives
45%
56%
33%
43%
39%
31%
29%
29%
25%
46%
33%
50%
39%
48%
46%
43%
37%
42%
8%
10%
14%
17%
13%
19%
22%
26%
24%
3%
6%
6%
7%

23% 46% 26% 4% 1%

1%
1%
3%

1%
1%

1%
1%
1%

36% 48% 13% 3% 1%

31% 48% 18% 3% 1%

32% 42% 21% 3% 1%

2%

27

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
Senior Executives

Q: Where in your organization does responsibility lie for managing the implementation of strategy through
high-priority initiatives and projects?

0% 40%20% 60%

The CEO and/or other members of the C-suite manage it directly

A strategic management functional group/role

An organization-wide project management office responsible
for projects and programs

Responsibility for management varies depending on the
specific field of strategy

A series of distributed project management offices responsible for
different functions that

report up to a central authority

55%
6%
3%
31%
5%
APPENDIX: Section 2
Q: Do you believe that your organization fully
understands the value of project management?
0% 80%40%20% 60%
Senior Executives
74%
26%
Yes

No

Q: How high a priority is each of the following within your organization?

0% 80% 100%40%20% 60%

Development of talent with the necessary technical
skills for the management of projects

Development of talent with the necessary
leadership skills for the management of projects

Development of talent with the necessary
business skills for the management of projects

Creating a culture receptive to
organizational change

Creating a culture that values project management

Developing strategy implementation skills
among executives

Development of skills for executive sponsors
of projects

Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Very high
Somewhat high
Moderate
Somewhat low
Very low
Senior Executives

37% 35% 19% 6% 3%

32% 41% 19% 7% 2%

37% 28% 25% 9% 1%

29% 42% 18% 6% 4%

29% 35% 24% 9% 4%

28% 35% 26% 8% 2%

26% 35% 25% 12% 3%

28

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% due to rounding

Region

Firmographics: Senior Executives

Organization’s annual revenue (US$)

0% 0%20% 10%40% 20%60% 30%80% 40%

North America $5 billion or more

Asia Pacific

$500-$999 million

67%
7%
17%
26%

EMEA

$1-$4.99 billion

Latin America

$250-$499 million

20%
6%
33%
25%

APPENDIX: Section 3

SURVEY RESULTS FROM 282 PMO DIRECTORS

APPENDIX: Section 2
Q: Compared with peer companies, how would you rank your organization on each of the following?
0% 80% 100%40%20% 60%

Financial performance

Strategy formulation

Execution of the formulation strategy

Well above average

Somewhat above average

Average

Somewhat below average

Well below average

22% 37% 31% 8% 2%

12% 38% 32% 13% 4%

12% 28% 43% 12% 5%

PMO Directors

Note: Numbers may not sum to
100% due to rounding

Q: How would you rate your organization’s success in performing the following activities over the last three years?
0% 80% 100%40%20% 60%
Formulating strategy appropriate for changing
market conditions

Prioritizing and funding the appropriate
initiatives/projects

Successfully executing initiatives/projects in order
to deliver strategic results

Feeding lessons from successful strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation
Feeding lessons from failed strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Excellent
Good
Fair
Somewhat poor
Poor
PMO Directors

15% 44% 30% 7% 5%

12% 43% 30% 10% 5%

13% 45% 27% 12% 3%

6% 29% 35% 19% 10%

6% 28% 30% 23% 13%

29

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
APPENDIX: Section 3

Q: Where in your organization does responsibility lie for managing the
implementation of strategy through high-priority
initiatives and projects?

0% 40%20% 30%10% 50%

The CEO and/or other members of the
C-suite manage it directly

A strategic management functional group/role

Responsibility for management varies depending
on the specific field of strategy

An organization-wide project management
office responsible for projects and programs

A series of distributed project management
offices responsible for different functions that

report up to a central authority
Other
42%
26%
13%
9%
8%
2%
PMO Directors

Q: Do you believe that your organization
fully understands the value of
project management?

0% 40%20% 60%
PMO Directors
46%
54%
Yes
No

Q: How important will improving the various aspects of strategy implementation be to the competitiveness of
your organization over the next three years?

0% 80% 100%40%20% 60%
Formulating strategy appropriate for changing
market conditions
Prioritizing and funding the appropriate
initiatives/projects
Successfully executing initiatives/projects in order
to deliver strategic results
Feeding lessons from successful strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation
Feeding lessons from failed strategy
implementation back into strategy formulation
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Essential

Very important

Somewhat important

Minimally important

Not important at all

PMO Directors

51% 37% 9% 3% 1%

42% 49% 6%3%

48% 45% 6% 1%1%

27% 48% 20% 5% 1%

30% 51% 15% 3%1%

30

P U L S E O F T H E P R O F E S S I O N ® | 2 0 1 6
APPENDIX: Section 3

0% 0%20% 10%40% 20%60% 30%

North America $5 billion or more
Asia Pacific
$500-$999 million
55%
14%
23%

11%
EMEA

$1-$4.99 billion
Latin America
$250-$499 million

$50-$249 million

Less than $50 million
22%
9%
17%
8%
15%
27%
Region

Firmographics: PMO Directors

Organization’s annual revenue (US$)
Note: Numbers may not sum to 100% due to rounding
Q: How high a priority is each of the following within your organization?
0% 80% 100%40%20% 60%
Development of talent with the necessary technical
skills for the management of projects
Development of talent with the necessary
leadership skills for the management of projects
Development of talent with the necessary
business skills for the management of projects
Creating a culture receptive to
organizational change
Creating a culture that values project management
Developing strategy implementation skills
among executives
Development of skills for executive sponsors
of projects
Note: Numbers may
not sum to 100% due
to rounding
Very high
Somewhat high
Moderate
Somewhat low
Very low
PMO Directors

14% 31% 30% 18% 8%

12% 36% 25% 18% 9%

11% 31% 27% 21% 10%

16% 33% 28% 13% 11%

14% 33% 29% 16% 9%

8% 31% 32% 18% 11%

8% 21% 30% 24% 17%

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