Project management & Agile practices

Are Your Projects Adapted
to a Changing World?

More volatile markets, shorter product lifecycles, a greater focus on employees, sustainability, and tolerance—all these factors make company projects more vulnerable to shifts in expectations and execution conditions. Consequently, project culture, leadership, and organisation must reflect these dynamics, which is where PMI’s new PMBOK 7th Edition can play a vital role.


Article

PMI’s new PMBOK 7th Edition represents a significant shift in the way projects are executed. It is based on the premise that every organisation operates in a world of complexity and change.

The core message is that all of project management should focus on value creation, with an agile approach—emphasising flexibility, adaptability, and leadership.

Project management in earlier PMBOK guides focused on a relatively rigid, process-driven approach. The new guide marks a departure from this approach.

A Standard for Good Project Management

The first part of the new guide introduces a universal standard for good project management. This section highlights value creation and 12 globally recognised principles for effective governance and leadership of projects. These principles serve as overarching guidelines for the practical execution of project management.

Guidance and Recommendations for Effective Project Management

The second part of the new guide provides practical advice and recommendations for managing and leading projects, organised into eight focus areas (domains). It also includes detailed guidance on tailoring all aspects of project management—from methods and approaches to specific tools.

Additionally, the guide contains a comprehensive collection of specific methods, models, and tools, along with reference tables that show the potential applications of these tools within various domains.

Tailoring, therefore, involves:

  1. Applying the principles of good project management (the standard for good project management) when planning and executing tasks across the eight domains.
  2. Using the guide’s collection of methods, models, tools, and reference tables.

PMBOK

 

The essence of the new, flexible approach to project management.

  • Management Focused on Value Creation
    Prioritising value and outcomes over rigid adherence to processes ensures that projects, in addition to meeting budgets and timelines, also deliver real value to the organisation and its stakeholders. This shift enhances customer satisfaction, strengthens business relationships, and improves competitiveness.

 

  • Tailoring to Conditions and Specific Situations
    An organisation’s methods, processes, standards, leadership, and tools should not remain static but instead adapt to circumstances and conditions. This means projects can respond more quickly to market changes or new internal demands, ultimately improving outcomes. Moreover, it promotes a more holistic approach to project governance, taking into account the project’s context, environment, and interfaces.

 

  • Focus on Stewardship and Leadership
    Greater emphasis is placed on equality, diversity, sustainability, and environmental considerations in project management. This includes leadership with integrity, care, trust, and perspective. Situational and agile leadership styles are particularly encouraged.

 

  • Stakeholder Engagement and Quality Deliverables
    Collaboration and engagement among project stakeholders are key. By fostering a culture where stakeholders are actively involved and informed throughout the project lifecycle, organisations can improve communication and reduce risks of misunderstandings and conflicts. This leads to more cohesive and effective teams working towards shared goals.

 

  • Autonomous, Self-Driving Teams
    Self-managed delivery teams that complement each other and leverage diversity in team composition are encouraged. With shared goals and accountability, project management capacity is freed to focus on “context leadership”—addressing the project’s environment, situation, and conditions. This enhances expectation alignment, reduces uncertainty, explores opportunities, and maintains a focus on value creation.

 

  • Focus on Complexity, Uncertainty, Change, and Preparedness
    A more integrated approach to risk and uncertainty management is essential for navigating the complex and dynamic environments in which larger organisations often operate. By applying tailored risk management strategies, organisations can better anticipate and mitigate potential threats, increasing resilience and preparedness.

 

  • Continuous Improvement and Innovation
    One of the most transformative aspects is the emphasis on continuous improvement. By fostering a culture of ongoing evaluation and optimisation, organisations can ensure that project management practices evolve in line with experiences and industry developments. This approach promotes innovation and keeps organisations ahead in their respective industries.

If you want to take the next step with PMI, feel free to contact Mannaz for further information on the topic. Mannaz offers PMI certification and can also provide tailored workshops on the new PMI approach, helping you harness the benefits of the PMBOK 7th Edition methodology.

Contact

Leif Godsk
Consultant
Read more
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