Different organizations have different reasons for implementing projects. Non-profit organizations and public agencies are mission-driven, while companies are business-driven. However, all operating entities conduct business-related activities in pursuit of creating value, which for the business-driven entity is tangible value in the form of a financial return (profit) from its goods or services as well as intangible value such as brand recognition, strategic alignment, corporate social responsibility (CSR), regulatory compliance, and other benefits.

Strategy leads to execution, which leads to success. An organization develops and executes strategies for investing and deploying its assets (resources) to achieve its mission optimally and sustainably, which often involves changes to its operations and capabilities. The organization’s strategy is the overarching influence for enterprise change, which typically involves project initiatives for improving operational effectiveness and productivity as well as for developing new products, services, or results.

The accelerated rate of technological innovations in a globally competitive environment has spurred organizations to adopt a project-based approach for the effective delivery of strategic outcomes to create value and benefits.

The professional practice of project management has matured with the standardization of methods, processes, and techniques; thus, the project management system’s (PMS) automation offers significant efficiency and reliability in the performance of project management functions and associated information exchange. The PMS has become a critical tool in project management for the support of facilitating strategic execution of organizational change initiatives to position the organization for sustainable success in the quest for competitive advantage.

Learn about the benefits of a PMS for each role:

Project managers

The PMS helps project managers to concentrate their efforts on the art and craft of project management (estimating, planning, and scheduling of projects; managing project risks; assessing and correcting project progress; and communicating project performance) in lieu of being distracted by the arduous tasks of manually keeping up with the project information and continually calculating project performance.

Project team members

The PMS helps project team members to understand the individual’s role in the overarching project scope; know assigned responsibilities, critical activities, and approved project changes; and unify team collaboration as well as centralizing the collection of ongoing project status information.

Organizations

The PMS helps the organization by making strategic projects visible, establishing a culture for collaborative exchange and problem-solving, and facilitating enterprise change control while providing a platform to elevate project management maturity and project knowledge management.

Stakeholders

The PMS helps stakeholders by providing proactive project reporting and project compliance accountability while ensuring project sponsors and clients feel that their needs are being met and that their interests are being safeguarded.

Leading Projects: The Direct Project Leadership Framework
Summary: This video introduces the DIRECT (define, investigate, resolve, execute, change, and transition) framework and how it can be applied to managing and leading projects.