Overview

Project success rates havent changed in 20 years Learn why, and what you can do to improve them in your organization Today, less than a third of projects deliver their specified business benefits on time and within budget. Nearly 20% of all projects fail outright, and under-delivery of benefits on the average project is as high as 50%. Acutely aware of this and without understanding the root causes of the problem, organizations are busy advancing capabilities and investing in methodologies and processes that increase complexity, but just deliver more failure. Using examples and lessons learned from high-risk environments where the price of project failure is death, this innovative and captivating guide provides powerful insights into the root causes of project failure and how to manage them. The author examines the failures and achievements of the Antarctic explorers Scott and Shackleton, Mount Everest expedition leader John Hunt, and modern-day Everest climbers, and expertly connects these to the high-risk world of modern day project and program management. Written from a base of in-depth project management knowledge and experience, this essential reference for business leaders, portfolio owners, project and program managers, business analysts, and risk managers, explores the drivers of risk in projects, the relationship between our ambitions and our abilities, and provides pragmatic real-world solutions to this constancy of project failure that readers can apply directly to their organization.

Full Product Details

9781604271195

Table of Contents

Reviews

I loved how the exciting stories from the high risk mountain top explorations demonstrated the CORA triangle (capabilities, outcomes, and risk appetite). Grant Avery then applied modern tools to business high-risk projects and led us down a path for improving project success. Project managers, organizational leaders, board members, and team players can all benefit from the valuable lessons to improve project success by understanding decisions that influence how projects are selected and implemented. Leadership skills and behaviors can positively or negatively influence outcomes in high-risk environments. There are principles shared from a wide variety of recognized organizations and highly regarded experts. -Jan Watson, MBA, PMP (from PM World Journal); Avery has written a fascinating and unique book about the challenges of project management in high-risk environments. The lessons learned from various high-risk adventures from the past should give project managers new insights into the challenges they face in their current project environments. -Prof. Michael Elmes, Ph.D., Professor of Organization Studies, Foisie School of Business, WPI, Worcestor, MA, USA; ...a genuinely insightful book that confronts the real reasons behind the constant unacceptable failure rate of so many large projects. I strongly commend it. -Professor Brad Jackson, Head of School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington; ... a book filled with inspiring and useful lessons. -Margot Morrell, Author of New York Times best seller Shackleton's Way; Wonderful, instructive, and exciting reading... from mountain top to ice field to business boardroom, Avery carefully analyzes the wide landscape of risk and opportunity, hubris, aspirations, and failure. -Dr. Gerald J. S. Wilde, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Queen's University

Author Information

Grant Avery, PMP, is a leading expert and international speaker on the subject of risk, quality assurance, business cases, and capability maturity models in project and program management. Mr. Avery has reviewed or overseen the quality, risk and success assurance of over $20 billion of high-risk projects and programs in New Zealand and Australian public and private sectors, including over 100 ICT-enabled business change projects. He is a Certified Registered Consultant in Project and Program Management and P3M3 capability maturity assessments, with an MBA of Distinction from Victoria University, New Zealand. Earlier in his career, Grant developed a unique perspective on the successful management of project and program risk in part from the knowledge and experience gained as Manager of New Zealands Scott Base where he was responsible for science support, search and rescue in Antarctica, and a team lead for the joint (USA-NZ) Antarctica search and rescue team (JASART). Prior to developing his own business, Grant was KPMG Director (Project Advisory), New Zealand. Mr. Avery is now President of Outcome Insights, a specialized consultancy that provides success and quality assurance advice and reviews for large and high-risk projects and programs delivering ICT-enabled business change, and initiatives introducing new organizational capabilities. Mr. Avery, co-author of the current edition of the P3M3 maturity model, provides specialist assessment and capability improvement advice on the project, program, and portfolio management practices in organizations. He is an active member of PMI International and the New Zealand Risk Society.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available