HBR On Strategy

Why Project-Based Work Fails — and How to Get It Right

Jun 19, 2024

Project management expert Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez discusses common failures in project-based work, blaming executives' lack of understanding and dedication. He provides strategies for better outcomes, such as proper framing, prioritization, and team engagement. The podcast explores the evolution of project management, challenges in project prioritization, and the shift towards project-based work in companies.

25:34

Episode guests

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Senior leaders often misunderstand project fundamentals, leading to project failures.

Projects are essential for organizations to adapt to fast-paced changes and drive innovation.

Deep dives

Project Management Challenges for Executives

Executives often fail to dedicate sufficient time and understanding to projects they sponsor, leading to project failures. Antonio Nieto Rodriguez highlights the importance of senior leaders actively engaging and comprehending project fundamentals, emphasizing that less is more in sponsorship.

Utilizing the Best People for Strategic Projects

01:52

The Need for Acceleration in Project-based Work

01:30

Demonstrate Value Beyond Project Management Jargon

00:51

Intro

3min

Evolution and Challenges of Project Management

13min

Strategies for Project Prioritization and Team Engagement

5min

Shift to Project-Based Work in Companies

6min

Insights on Project-Based Work and Asana Promotion

2min

Companies of every size across the world are basing more of their work around projects than at any time in the past. But research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail.

Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, who has studied projects and project management for decades, argues that at least some of the blame for these failures lies with executives who misunderstand the fundamentals of projects and fail to dedicate enough of their time to those they sponsor.

In this episode, Nieto-Rodriguez explains how to get better outcomes from project-based work. He also discusses how to frame projects, structure organizations around them, and avoid common pitfalls.

Key episode topics include: strategy, project management, operations strategy, organizational change.

HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: The Future of Work Is Projects—So You’ve Got to Get Them Right (2021)

· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.

HBR On Strategy

Why Project-Based Work Fails — and How to Get It Right

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Project Management Challenges for Executives

Evolution of Project Work

Balancing Operational Efficiency and Project-based Work

Utilizing the Best People for Strategic Projects

The Need for Acceleration in Project-based Work

Demonstrate Value Beyond Project Management Jargon

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts