Great reminder that project management is not only about delivering projects on time and within budget. Understanding the organization’s strategy enables project managers to make better decisions and
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
An important perspective. I would add one further observation. Understanding organizational strategy is essential, but understanding alone does not ensure strategic alignment. Project managers also need the information, decision context and organizational conditions that allow strategic intent to influence real choices throughout the project. In that sense, connecting strategy to execution is not simply about knowing why the project exists. It is about continuously using that purpose to guide priorities, trade-offs and decisions as conditions evolve. Saving Changes...
If you're saying that understanding organizational objectives and how the project aligns with company strategy increases the likelihood of making decisions that are aligned with that strategy, I would have to agree. Whether or not it's the project managers or the business leaders who need this reminder will likely vary across companies.
It should also be noted that having this understanding is not going to ensure strategic alignment, on its own. Effective decision-making processes and governance that reflect organizational priorities are also needed. This includes the willingness to make decisions that are good for the business but may not be good for the project. An important concept, here, is "decision context", or the information about circumstances, priorities, constraints, relationships, and consequences needed to determine what "good" means for a particular decision. Saving Changes...
Simbarashe MabweProject Manager| IQVIAWorcester, WC, South Africa
Agreed, scope, schedule, and cost remain essential delivery controls, but they do not define project success on their own. True success also depends on value delivery, adaptability, accountability, and alignment with strategic goals. This means using projects, programs, and related activities to execute strategy against business objectives, while benefits realization links organizational strategy to project deliverables, measurable benefits, success criteria, and intended business value and given that most projects are contractual, smarter negotiation and willingness to accept some trade-offs with a long-term focus on the organization’s success and reputation Saving Changes...
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