Practical Project Management

Projects represent much of the work done in today’s organizations. Unfortunately, many organizations devote valuable resources, including employees’ time, to poorly conceived and implemented projects that do not achieve meaningful goals or are never completed. In fact, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that fewer than 3% of companies successfully completed all of their projects. The effects of poorly conceived and implemented projects can be devastating to company success. The Harvard Business Review reported that the failure of IT projects in the United States costs $50 to $150 billion each year. Effective project management is essential if organizations are to succeed in today’s rapidly changing and highly competitive environment. Learning to manage projects effectively not only benefits your organization, it benefits you. Today’s organizations rely on employees who can carry a project through from inception to completion, on time and on budget, making a more efficient use of resources and achieving a quality outcome. Thus, being able to manage projects successfully makes you more valuable to your organization and improves your career prospects by providing you with a critical skill.