Running an organisation that delivers projects is hard.

You may be a pure ‘project business’ where everything you do is delivered through projects and programmes – from short term assignments to long-term, really complex work.

Or, you may be responsible for a project unit or for a business that provides projects alongside other work.

The difficulty is this …
… first projects, programmes or change initiatives are difficult to start with.
… then, you have the added complication of all the business things on top of the project things.

You need to set a strategy, get the finances right, hire good people, win work, win more work, win even more work … work with stakeholders, think about culture, build teams, split teams up, meet with shareholders or boards, manage your business risk (on top of all the project risks), be a PR expert, know the tech, make wow presentations, win more work, develop new products and services … whilst trying to find time to do things you want to do outside of work … and of course, take care of yourself … your mental health, your physical self … and … be happy.

Not easy right?

So having done all those things, ran project businesses, been an exec in plc’s, led a Project Management Institute business, travelled the world, pulled more than a fair share of all-nighters to win work, slept in cars before going on stage to make keynotes, networked til my hand hurt … and most importantly grown project businesses and helped lots of organisations to deliver (far) better projects … I thought all that insight may help someone else.

So, if you’re responsible for a business that delivers projects, programmes … work that has a start, middle and end … there’s lots of help available here.

The help is structured into an Operating System for Project Businesses.

… a first of a kind – a holistic approach to building a project business or project unit.

It tackles all the project stuff as well as all the business elements required to run and scale a project organisation too.

To get you started– you’re very likely to want to know more about 9 things in particular, listed below. 

Some things on the list below may be running smoothly, some not. But, you and me both know that just because things are going well, doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way of doing them either – given a little thought and effort.

Muhammad Ali didn’t get to be the best in the world by sleeping in.

Ninja’s don’t eat donuts.

NASA didn’t stop exploration after reaching the moon.

There’s always room to be better … even if getting better just gives you more free time to do other stuff.

Here’s the Nine areas where’s there’s probably room to be better:

1. Purpose & Plans – clarity on positioning, strategy, how to compete and how to ensure you’re around doing business in the long-term.

2. Finding & Keeping Customers – how to win more work and keep customers coming back.

3. Developing a Culture – looking at how things get done, even when you’re not there. Creating the unique ‘chemistry’ you need so that everything goes well.

4. Delivery – how to deliver really well.

5. People – how to find great people, keep them, help them work better together and how to deal with it when things don’t go to plan.

6. Finances, Governance & Control – having a handle on all the moving parts of your business. Generating the cash and profits you need, working with shareholders, dealing with risks, being socially responsible, embedding diversity and being inclusive.

7. Tech – how are you harnessing the tech that will genuinely help you?

8. Shared Services – having a team that enables everyone to perform at their best and offers helpful support.

9. Improving – developing a system that ensures you’re always getting better.

BTW – even though these areas are just a sentence of two – there’s a lot of depth to be covered in all the areas above – but if there’s something missing, add it to the list, or let me know.

I’m always trying to improve too.

So where to start?
If you’re responsible for improving a project business, or business unit, or the projects you have in your portfolio – there’s a simple 10-20 minute exercise that you can do on your own to help gather your thoughts and get you started.

And it’s free.

You can download it here