Project Success and Your Voice

From the People, Planet, Profits & Projects Blog
by Richard Maltzman, Dave Shirley

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Richard Maltzman
Dave Shirley

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Date

As we round out 2024 and head into 2025, I think it’s important to recognize the progress PMI has made in reframing the practice of project management - into what I call project leadership.

In particular, the expanded view of our work from focusing only on scope, cost, and time (which are indeed important) to a long-term, holistic outlook past the end of the projects end date – that’s laudable and really the driving force behind this blog.

In particular, I would like to point your attention to their “Maximizing Project Success” thought leadership report published recently (Click Here). And as we approach the New Year, I also would like you to note that the 8^th Edition of the PMBOK® Guide is now in the comments period. I’m going to encourage you to chime in and add your comments to the 8^th Edition – let your voice be heard!

Maximizing Project Success

Pierre Le Manh, CEO and President of PMI, captures the essence of the report (well, the part that I like the most) here in the very introduction to the document:

"Expand perspective: Ultimately the goal of this research and the call we are making to project professionals is to expand our perspective. All projects have impacts beyond just the scope of the project itself. We all must consider the broader picture and how the project fits within the larger business, goals or objectives of the enterprise, and, ultimately, our world."

Part of the document – an important and useful one, is focused on redefining project success. The new definition of project success – and this is strikingly simple and powerful – is:

Project Success Definition:

Delivered value that was worth the effort and expense.

Notice that this is so different from definitions that focus only project efficiency – which you could call project management success - being on time, delivering what was promised at point of payment, and doing it under budget. At the heart of that definition is the concept of project value – which is delivered AFTER the project end date. Thinking about that long-term, operational value of the PRODUCT of the project – this has been the theme of this blog all along, and it is music to my ears to hear this being spoken (loudly!) by PMI.

There is so much here – 45 pages worth – so it is worth a read. There are measurements proposed including a Net Project Success Score, and research… but it also has practical learnings you can apply (quoting below):

An understanding of how success is defined and measured on a global scale, providing a way to talk about what success looks like from all angles.
Two major, actionable findings that any project and/or organization could benefit from: implementing key metrics and embracing social impact.
Directional guidance by industry, project type and funding source, offering candidate categories of measurement and performance levers that are predictive of project success.
Beyond that, the research has offered us insight into how our profession is evolving and ways to lean into the change. Project professionals should understand that:
- Value, even beyond project completion, should be the primary focus, paired with solid execution.
- They must manage the perceptions of multiple project stakeholders, including executives and customers.
- They must be accountable for and own all the above, elevating the work they do and their value to the business.

Moving this forward - The 8^th Edition PMBOK® Guide – Comment Period Open

As mentioned above, the 8^th Edition is now available for comments. You can go there right now here: https://publiccomment.pmi.org/guide-project-management-body-knowledge-pmbok%C2%AE-guide-0

You will have to log in via your PMI account to comment. I suggest that readers of this blog take the time to help PMI’s own words as spelled out in the “Maximizing Project Success” report get into the PMBOK® Guide. It’s worth the time to get your voice heard. You have until 1700 (Boston, MA, USA time) on 19-Jan to submit your comments.

Maybe even make it a New Year’s Resolution!