Guide to Project Management: Getting it right and achieving lasting benefit, 2nd Edition

Chapter 12

Embedding effective project management

A SYSTEMISED APPROACH for using projects to deliver lasting business change may represent a change in itself for many people in an organisation. To succeed, any approach to designing, implementing and embedding a new way of working must take account of the fact that it must be a culture-changing exercise. If project management behaviours are not modified at both the individual and organisational levels, the desired transformation will not take place.

As in many projects, realising the benefits of introducing a new approach will take time. During this time, the leaders of the change must manage carefully the expectations of the many stakeholders who will be affected by the outcome. For some, it may be a difficult experience; their workload may increase, or they may be required to work in a way that is not instinctive. Others will relish the opportunity to embrace practices that they see as enhancing their professional lives. Those who seek to design, implement and embed the new approach will need to deliver an outcome that neither panders to, nor exiles, either of these two extremes. A managed approach is essential, so using a project to embed project management in an organisation is an effective way of accomplishing it. For the rest of this chapter, this project will be referred to as the project management improvement initiative.

Establishing a case for change

It is important to demonstrate the link between projects and business ...