110 - Are you defining project success wrong? Most PM's do! With PMI's Dave Garrett

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Oct 15, 2025

Dave Garrett, a Senior Advisor at the Project Management Institute and co-founder of ProjectManagement.com, challenges traditional views on project success. He highlights PMI's new focus on delivering value over merely meeting the iron triangle of scope, schedule, and budget. Dave introduces the M.O.R.E. framework, which emphasizes managing perceptions, owning success, relentlessly reassessing priorities, and expanding perspectives. He shares insights from his early career and argues for an agile approach, urging project managers to engage stakeholders for better alignment and measurable outcomes.

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ANECDOTE

Surviving The Dot-Com Crash With Gantthead

Dave Garrett built Gantthead (projectmanagement.com) during the dot-com boom and survived the 2000 crash.
He learned that everything can change overnight and the importance of flexibility and risk awareness.

INSIGHT

Success Defined As Value Over Iron Triangle

PMI now defines project success as delivering value worth the effort and expense.
This reframes success from meeting the triple constraint to measuring value realized.

INSIGHT

AI Makes Project Management More Human

AI will automate administrative PM tasks and amplify human skills like influence and empathy.
Project management becomes more human-focused, emphasizing relationships and business insight.

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Are you defining project success the wrong way? Most project managers are — at least according to PMI's Dave Garrett.

Project Management Happy Hour hosts Kim Essendrup and Kate Anderson sit down with Dave — Senior Advisor at the Project Management Institute (PMI) and co-founder of ProjectManagement.com — for a frank and real conversation about PMI's new definition of project success to talk about how realistic it is, and what it means for the future of our profession.

For decades, project success was judged by the "iron triangle" — scope, schedule, and budget. But PMI has officially redefined it:

"A successful project is one that delivers value worth the effort and expense."

Dave explains how this updated definition shifts the focus from checking boxes to delivering outcomes that truly matter — and how every PM can start measuring success through value creation instead of rigid constraints.

The discussion digs into PMI's new M.O.R.E. framework — a practical mindset for modern project leaders:

M – Manage Perceptions: Build trust and alignment with stakeholders.
O – Own Success: Don't just deliver; ensure the value lands.
R – Relentlessly Reassess: Constantly re-evaluate priorities and adapt to change.
E – Expand Perspective: See the bigger picture across business strategy, customers, and society.

Dave also shares lessons from his early startup days building Gantthead.com, the dot-com crash, and how those lessons apply in today's AI-driven project world. You'll hear how the rise of automation is making project management more human, pushing PMs to lead through empathy, influence, and strategic insight rather than process checklists.

If you've ever struggled with the question, "Was my project really a success?" this episode will give you a fresh, empowering way to answer it.

Key Takeaways

PMI's official definition of project success now centers on value, not just time, cost, and scope.
The M.O.R.E. mindset helps PMs evolve beyond administrators into strategic leaders.
AI will augment, not replace, project managers — freeing them to focus on human connection and business impact.
"Success" is contextual: a delayed project that delivers exceptional value can still be a win.

Guest Links

Learn more about PMI's Project Success initiative: pmi.org/projectsuccess
Connect with Dave Garrett on LinkedIn
Explore PMI's AI resources: pmi.org/ai

Want even more? Join us at pmhappyhour.com/membership to get PDU certificates for episodes, downloadable templates, access to our PM community, and 1:1 time with Kim and Kate.