Why Most Projects Fail-and How to Achieve Better Outcomes

"Companies of every size in every industry and part of the world are basing more of their work around projects. And yet research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, who has studied projects and project management for decades, explains how we can do better. He offers advice on the right way to frame projects, how to structure organizations around them, and pitfalls to avoid."

"Nieto-Rodriguez is the author of the Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook and author of the article " The Project Economy Has Arrived." Key episode topics include: project management, operations strategy, organizational change Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org"

Companies of every size and industry are structuring more work around projects. Nearly two-thirds of project efforts fail. Project success requires framing projects for clear strategic outcomes, specific objectives, and measurable benefits. Organizations must create structures that support projects through governance, dedicated resources, project offices, and strong executive sponsorship. Common pitfalls include unclear scope, weak sponsorship, poor metrics, insufficient capability development, and lack of change management. A project-driven economy demands aligning operations strategy, building project capabilities, and proactively managing organizational change to increase the success rate of strategic initiatives.

Read at Harvard Business Review