Strategic execution and project management

Over the past year, PM Partners has surveyed 230 project management professionals in 135 organisations across most industry sectors to assess whether the five factors of Strategy Execution Capability are actually being implemented. The results are astounding and will be published next year in a special White Paper available on our website (advance copies available late November – see details below).

Our most startling discovery was that 87% of business stakeholders fail to communicate how strategies link with projects. This finding implies an excessive interest among stakeholders in project management practice rather than the project’s outcomes.

Strategy execution has long been a problem in organisations and it is something that is specifically addressed in PM Partners’ project management and program management education and training programs. Lacking communication between company stakeholders and project managers often leads to failed project execution. Unfortunately, project managers can’t force company executives to participate in projects but simple questions at the project planning stage can help ensure project quality and strategy execution.

In today’s fast-paced world, improved project execution is often defined as doing things faster using new tools, systems and metrics rather than relying on the tried and tested process of strategy execution. Project management process and discipline is a key element of strategy execution, along with clarity around objectives and initiatives.

We discuss this in greater depth in our comprehensive Strategy Execution White Paper, which is due to be released in early 2010. If you would like an advance copy of our White Paper, please contact Sheree or Lisa in our office on +61 1300 701 314 .

Share this article on: