The High Cost of Low Performance

2016 The High Cost of Low Performan\fe How will you improve business results? 8th Glo\bal Proje\ft Management Survey Customers want the best products and services\i\f Employees want better salarie\is\f E\becutives want growth\f If we can’t have perfection, we all want progress\f But we know it’s hard to deliver consistently positive results in an uncert\iain and continually shifting global mark\ietplace\f Organizations that invest in project management waste 13 times less money bec\iause their strategic init\iiatives are completed more successfully\f We know project management is essen\itial for any organization’s success, yet the message is not \i being realized\f As we reviewed this year’s Pulse of the Profession® data, we were hoping to see improvement over last year’s results\f Instead, we saw declines in many of the success factors we track\f Even more concerning, the percentage of projects meeting their goals—which had bee\in at for the past four years—took a signi c\iant dip\f To e\bamine this situation further, we surveyed e\becutive 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 a\is a strategic driver, their organizations aren’t always in step\f Until leaders throughout organization hierarchies trust that projects deliver strategy, I fear we will continue to see stagnant pr\iogress\f And that means organizations will be less successful than they should be\f It will take some work, but it can ha\ippen if we take a collective approach to help shift the thinking\f Use this report and other PMI research to strengthen conversations about the quanti able bene ts\i project management delivers to organizations\f Help drive the transformational thinking needed within your organization—because \iit’s together that we can do great things\f Mark A. Langley PMI President and CEO Drive Better Results with Project M\fn\fgement 1 2 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. PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 more projects meet goals and original business intent © 2010–2016 Project Management \fn\mstitute\b All rights reserved\b 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.

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 3 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: 2,428 Project ManagementPractitioners 192 Senior Executi\fes 282 PMO Directors PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 4 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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:

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 5 2012 60% 70% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 20132014 20152016 64% 55% 15% 34% 44% 51% 62% Met origina\f goa\fs/b\bsines\as intent Comp\feted within origina\f b\bdget Comp\feted on time Experienced scope c\areep Fai\fed project’s b\bdget \fost Deemed fai\f\bre 53% 16% 32% 45% 49% 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.

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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.

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 7 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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.” PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 8 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 9 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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 Mo\ferate Somewhat low Very low 13% 27% 32% 1\f% 2\f% 27% 33% 18% 28% 26% 33% 1\f% 10% 10%11%30% 12% 11% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 10 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 TIMESCOPE C\fEEPP\fOJECTS DEEMED FAILU\fES Priority of all three is very or somewhat high \0 Priority of all three is very or somewhat low 7\b% 64% 6\b% 38% \b3% 53% 2\b% 35% 38% 5\b% 100\f 80\f60\f 40\f \b0\f 0\f © 2010–2016 Project Management \fn\mstitute\b All rights reserved\b The PM\f 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 11 Met goals/intent Within budgetSco\fe cree\f Projects dee\bed failures On ti\be 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 12 42%less MET GOALS/INTENT WITHIN BUDGET ON TIMESCOPE C\fEEPP\fOJECTS DEEMED FAILU\fES High Alignment \6 Low Alignment 7\b% 62% 59% 38% \b3% 54% \b7% 4\b% 47% 56% 100% 80%60% \f0% 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 13 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/intentWithin budget Sco\fe cree\f Projects dee\bed failuresOn ti\be 66% 40% 62% 36% 76% 46% 10% 21% 40%48% Has executive s\fonsor su\f\fort \c Does not have executive s\fonsor su\f\fort \c 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 14 Formulate strategy \nappropriate for changing mar\fet conditions Prioritize and fund the appropriate initiati\bes/projects Successfully execute initiati\bes/projects to deli\ber strategic results Feed lessons from successful strategy bac\f into\n strategy formulation Feed lessons from failed strategy bac\f into\n strategy formulation Executi\be Leaders \n PMO Directors 83% 59% 68% 35% 67% 34% 78% 55% 74 % 59% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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) PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 15 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 agili\ItyGreater cost savings\I I\fproved risk identi\bcatio\In and \fitigation Co\fpetitive edge Better success with organizational chang\Ie I\fproved custo\fer satisfa\Iction Return on invest\fent is \fet or exceeded Faster ti\fe to \farket I\fproved success with co\fplex projects Higher revenues/pro\bts 41% 61% 23% 63% 39% 31% 37% 57% 38% 50% 45% 40% 33% 31% 45% 37% 29% 32% 23% 27% Executive Leaders \IPMO Directors Figure 9: BENEFITS OF FORMAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 16 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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.

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 17 91% 88% 83% 74 % 82% 81% 88% 91% 90% 93% Formulate \ftrategy app\ ropr\bate for chang\bng market cond\bt\bon\f Pr\bor\bt\bze and fund the appropr\bate \bn\bt\bat\bve\f/project\f Succe\f\ffully execute \bn\bt\bat\bve\f/project\f to del\bver \ftrateg\bc re\fult\f Feed le\f\fon\f from successful \ftrategy back \bnto \ft\ rategy formulat\bon Feed le\f\fon\f from failed \ftrategy back \bnto \ft\ rategy formulat\bon Execut\bve Leader\f PMO D\ \brector\f 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.” PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 18 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 19 Strengthen Conversation the 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.

PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 20 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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%80% 80% 40% 20% 60% Ye sGlobal 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 21 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 methodologiesProject portfolio managementEarned 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 22 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% Ye sGlobal 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 23 APPENDIX: Section 1 Global Total Mean PercentagesGlobal 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 prioritiesChange 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 supportPoor change management Inaccurate task time estimate Resource dependency Inadequate resource forecasting Limited/taxed resources Inexperienced project manager Team member procrastination Task dependencyOther 62% 41% 29% 29% 53% 37% 28% 32% 14% 49% 38% 45%31% 31% 26% 26% 16% 30% 30% 22% 12% 59% 21% 9% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 24 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 25 Global Total Q: Please select the term that best describes the primary focus of your organization. 0% 15%20% 10% 5% Information Technology Financial ServicesManufacturing Energy Government Healthcare Telecom Construction Consulting Training/Education Aerospace Transportation / Logistics / Distribution Automotive Food and Beverage Retail Pharmaceutical MiningLegal 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 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 26 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION ® | 2016 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 27 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% Ye s 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 toorganizational 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 28 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 29 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% Ye s 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 30 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 toorganizational 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% PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 PULSE OF THE PROFESSION | 2016 ©2016 Project Management In\I\ftitute. \bll right\f re\ferved. “PMI”, the PMI logo, “Making project management i\Indi\fpen\fable for bu\fine\f\f re\fult\f.” \bnd “Pul\fe of the Profe\f\fion” are mark\f of Project Management In\I\ftitute, Inc. For a comprehen\five li\ft of PMI mark\f, contac\It the PMI Legal Depa\Irtment. BR\b-002-2016 (2-1\I6).

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