Connecting the dots. Aligning projects with objectives in unpredictable times

Cathleen Benko, F. Warren McFarlan1578518776, 9781578518777

As companies look for ways to unlock shareholder value, restore investor confidence, and adapt to uncertainty, the project portfolio is a smart place to look. Why? Because companies’ project initiatives have grown faster than their ability to manage them-affecting the return on trillions of investment dollars while failing to prepare companies for today’s unpredictable environment.
Connecting the Dots argues that the portfolio is a company’s future currency-the truest measure of organizational intent. And the best way to leverage this currency is through greater alignment.
Simply put, alignment is about better matching the company’s portfolio to its objectives and the uncertain environment. Connecting the Dots employs a practical, “play the hand you are holding” approach, providing a balance of concepts and roll-up-your-sleeves guidance on how to:
* Determine how well aligned-or misaligned-an organization is today
* Apply tools that reveal opportunities to reduce portfolio risk while increasing the economics of a company’s portfolio
* Instill more adaptive mind-sets to better respond to whatever future presents itself
Executives already know their portfolios are not delivering as expected. This guidebook helps “connect the dots” between an organization’s objectives and its project investments, capturing hidden value today while better preparing for tomorrow.