In a world where periods of change overlap and become increasingly longer, companies must find a balance between the two dimensions of their activity: (1) Operations, which aim to exploit current capabilities to achieve objectives, and (2) Projects, which add value to the organization by exploring new competencies. In other words, they must simultaneously focus on the organization’s functioning and its transformation.
Thus, the transformation of the organization, through the execution of projects, is an essential dimension for the company’s future. It includes all strategic and tactical initiatives and programs of the organization. Organizational change refers to innovation, transformation, agility, and long-term value creation.
However, only 8.5% of large projects achieve their targets regarding both cost and delivery time. In other words, 91.5% exceed the allocated budget and delay delivery! It seems unbelievable, but these are the results of Bent Flyvberg, who maintains a database of over 16,000 projects! Furthermore, 99.5% of projects exceed the allocated budget, delay delivery, yield unsatisfactory benefits, or combine all three parameters. As Flyvberg observes:
“To do what you said you would do should be routine or at least commonplace, but it almost never happens!”
One of the main causes of these failures can be found in the statement “Fail to Plan… Plan to Fail!” This statement is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, but the author is less important than the implications of a lack of planning! If you fail to plan, you are simply planning to fail!
In this context, at the Project Management workshop, organized in Păltiniș from March 28-30, 2025, we reviewed and practically applied the steps to follow for project execution, thus (re)discovering the importance of good planning!
The topics covered included the definition of a project and project management, but especially the application of concrete tools in the project management phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Control, and Closure.
The Project Management program offered a valuable opportunity to learn and apply essential concepts for project success. Through a practical approach and the use of case studies, participants were able to better understand the challenges encountered in project management and develop concrete planning and execution skills. The importance of rigorous planning was emphasized throughout the training, reaffirming that success in the project domain largely depends on prior preparation and organization.
Many thanks to everyone involved for their contribution to this learning experience, and thank you to the facilitator Adrian Hudulin (www.train2excellence.ro)!
[1] https://hbr.org/2021/11/the-project-economy-has-arrived
[2] Bent Flyvberg and Dan Gardner, How Big Things Get Done.
