Research Specialist| Project Management InstituteGreater Stockholm Area, Sweden
The 2025 PMI Pulse of the Profession® report highlights how business acumen elevates project professionals from tactical executors to strategic value drivers, delivering comprehensive project success. Based on research with nearly 3,000 professionals and 25 industry experts, the report finds that those with high business acumen outperform their peers in business goal achievement, schedule adherence, and budget adherence.
Despite these advantages, only 18% of project professionals exhibit high business acumen, while 66% demonstrate a moderate level. While 54% of senior leaders recognize the need to develop these skills, they prioritize technical (64%) and power skills (61%) instead, signaling an underinvestment in this critical area.
The report emphasizes how professionals at all levels can engage in strengthening business acumen. Project professionals should combine diverse learning opportunities with varied project experiences. Senior leaders can also support development through strategic hiring and mentorship programs.
We’d love to hear your take - comment below!
-How are you developing your business acumen? What resources, tools, and training are your pursuing?
-What type of support do you receive from your organization in developing business acumen? What do you wish you had access to?
-How do you leverage business acumen in your role to increase project success? Saving Changes...
One of the best ways a PM can develop their business acumen is by meaningful conversations with their business stakeholders about what is important to them and what keeps them up and nights.
Another way is to do Gemba walks or other strategies of going where the work is done. Job shadowing or spending time observing how stakeholders are doing their work can really help.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Tessa, for me, Business Acumen comes with experience. Job shadowing, like Kiron mentioned, is one good strategy to develop and elevate BA. Saving Changes...
PMO Leader | Speaker & Mentor | Content Leader – PMOGA Latin America
Hub| Catholic University of UruguayMontevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
Insight is the greatest challenge because it requires more than just knowledge or experience; it involves the ability to see beyond the obvious, connect ideas in innovative ways, and anticipate consequences that others might overlook. Saving Changes...
The first step in developing business acumen is having a genuine interest in doing so. This might seem obvious, but not everyone has the mindset to grow beyond the skills strictly required for their current tasks and responsibilities.
Demonstrating interest can start with finding a mentor or subject matter expert (SME) who can guide you through the ins and outs of the business. Ask relevant questions and absorb the information they share.
Additionally, you can further expand your business knowledge by taking relevant courses. In my case, I pursued an Executive MBA, which proved to be an excellent way to bridge knowledge gaps in areas that were previously unfamiliar to me. This helped me add even more value in my role as a project manager.
Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Developing business acumen requires curiosity and action.
It’s key to study topics like strategy, finance, and business models, engage in organizational decisions, and collaborate beyond the project team.
Mentorship from experienced leaders also accelerates growth.
Most importantly, apply that knowledge to create real business value. Saving Changes...
Ming YeungAdjunct Professor| Various academic institutesToronto, Ontario, Canada
Hello Tessa,
I've been actively investing in my business acumen by blending formal learning with real-world exposure. For instance, I frequently take online courses on strategic planning, financial management, and market analysis offered by PMI and other reputable platforms. I also seek opportunities for job shadowing and participate in cross-functional projects to observe how decisions are made at the executive level. This hands-on approach not only reinforces my theoretical knowledge but also sharpens my ability to connect project outcomes with broader business objectives.
In terms of organizational support, my company provides access to training programs and occasionally sponsors certifications. There’s a strong emphasis on technical and leadership skills, which is excellent, yet I wish there were more dedicated mentorship initiatives specifically geared towards developing business acumen. A structured program pairing emerging professionals with seasoned business strategists could further accelerate this growth, ensuring that we’re not only good at managing tasks but also at driving strategic value.
Leveraging my business acumen has allowed me to elevate project success by aligning project goals with the organization’s strategic vision. I actively involve stakeholders early on, integrate feedback into my strategy, and continuously assess project risks from a market perspective. This approach has improved our schedule and budget adherence and, more importantly, delivered tangible business value beyond the traditional performance metrics.
I also love to hear from fellow practitioners on how they integrate business acumen into their daily practice and share innovative ways to blend technical skills with strategic insights to create a real impact on project outcomes.
Thank you for the thought-provoking thread.
Best regards,
Ming
PMI Team Member
Community Champion
