Project Portfolio Management: A View From The Management Trenches

Chapter 7. Are We Realizing the Promised Benefits?

"Does it getting any better?" wondered Bill. "An assignment completed ahead of time, a happy customer, and the opportunity to get home early for the weekend." Then he made the fatal mistake—he called in to the office just to check up on things and pick up the mail.

Bill's office assistant knocked on the door, "Sir, there was a call from John Durham. He said it wasn't urgent, but he'd like you to call back as soon as possible."

"Thanks. Acme Retail," thought Bill, "I seem to remember saying my work there was done—looks like I might have been a little premature!" And then he heard his mother's voice in his head: "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Bill sighed and reached for the receiver—he never ignored his mother.

"Hey, Bill, thanks for calling back. I just wanted to say thanks for all your help. We're really making progress in sorting the issues we talked about. I can honestly say we're aligning our investments with our corporate strategy and managing project delivery and our capacity more effectively. Leo and Hannah are really happy."

"That's great," replied Bill. "So why the call—what's the problem?"

"There's no problem as such—or at least I don't think there is. It's just that I saw Hannah in the elevator this morning. She commented on the progress we're making and said how impressed she was by the last portfolio report. But then she said something that has been nagging at me ever since . . ."

"Let me guess—something ...