Study: Global Business Performance Significantly Improved Through Project Management

    WARSAW, Poland, July 14 /EMWNews/ -- Preliminary findings

from a landmark independent, academic study on the value of project

management, released today at the Project Management Institute's biennial

research conference, clearly demonstrate that business and organizational

performance can be significantly improved through the practice of project

management.



    The study, "Researching the Value of Project Management," is

"unequivocal in its findings and independently validates what we've

believed all along," said Edwin J. Andrews, Ph.D., director of Academic and

Educational Programs & Services at the Project Management Institute.



    "Project management is critical in today's urgent and volatile economic

environment. Business, government and non-governmental organizations can

maximize performance and results when project management is properly

implemented within the context of their organization."



    Principal investigators Janice Thomas, Ph.D. and Mark Mullaly, PMP led

this study through Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada. Their team of

nearly 50 researchers on 17 global teams completed more than 18 months of

data collection including interviews with 450 managers and executives.



    The researchers' preliminary findings have been archived and can be

viewed online at http://www.pmi.org/value. Due to publish in October 2008, the

study will analyze project management from a detailed matrix of geography,

industry and organizational type.



    "This study is the first statistically significant look at project

management from an organizational perspective," Andrews said. "It clearly

shows that everyone from top executives and project managers to

subcontractors, suppliers and other vendors recognize the value of project

management in achieving business results and meeting stakeholder

expectations.



    "While project managers have always recognized the value and role of

project management, executives and organizational leaders are often unaware

of the role formal project management can play in securing business results

and providing competitive advantage.



    "Project Management is particularly important today as energy and

commodity prices spike and access to capital is squeezed," Andrews

continued.



    "As this study clearly demonstrates, project management provides

critical business solutions that can help any company or organization

achieve tangible business results and be more competitive in today's global

marketplace."



    Project Management Institute (http://www.pmi.org) is the leading advocate for

the project management profession globally. Founded in 1969, PMI has more

than 400,000 members and credential holders in 174 countries. PMI's Project

Management Professional (PMP) credential is globally recognized as the gold

standard credential in project management.