| The CEO of a company is typically responsible for | | | | management (PPM) software, such as @task, |
| implementing the strategic goals and objectives of | | | | allow project managers and executives to see an |
| an organization. He/She gives the direction and | | | | overarching view of all upcoming and current |
| leadership needed to achieve the organization's | | | | projects. Similar to the way a VP of Sales might |
| philosophy, mission, strategy, and its annual goals | | | | use a CRM system, a VP of Operations can use a |
| and objectives. Or in more simple words, the | | | | PPM system to monitor project deadlines, see |
| Chief Executive Officer needs to ensure that the | | | | budget and scheduling conflicts, and forecast the |
| organization is making profits! | | | | future profitability of projects. The PPM |
| And how do CEOs help an organization increase | | | | software provides dashboards and reports that |
| profits? They hire a talented staff and then give | | | | help keep all projects aligned to corporate |
| them the direction and vision needed to do their | | | | objectives and ensures that each project is a |
| jobs. Each executive is charged with specific | | | | gainful investment for the company. |
| duties and is measured on set of objectives. | | | | Without the use of project portfolio management |
| The VP of Sales, for example, is charged with | | | | software, project managers and executives are |
| driving more sales to the organization. To | | | | forced to spend an excessive amount of time |
| monitor his/her success, the VP uses a mixture | | | | managing and tracking project schedules and |
| of software and tools to help track the efforts of | | | | budgets. They often lose site of the big picture, |
| the sales department. The tools help answer | | | | investing time and money into sunken projects or |
| questions like: How many phone calls were made | | | | projects that were doomed to fail before they |
| this month? How many sales were closed | | | | ever began. Harvey Levine explained, "In PPM, it |
| yesterday? What's in the pipeline? CRM tools, | | | | is assumed that the enterprise positions itself for |
| such as Salesforce and ACT, provide dashboards | | | | increased strength and profitability through its |
| and reports that help the VP of Sales do his/her | | | | selection and execution of projects and ensures |
| job better, providing a bird's eye view of the | | | | that it continues to thrive in a world of constant |
| entire department. | | | | change and the threat of competition." |
| In a similar way, the VPs of Operations, | | | | The bottom line is that Executives need project |
| Marketing, IT, and other departments, need tools | | | | and portfolio management tools to help the |
| that help them monitor the success of their | | | | company make more profits. All CEOs, and |
| departments. For a project-based company, | | | | especially CEOs of project-oriented organizations, |
| such as a Website Design Firm or a Construction | | | | need a bird's eye view of what's going in their |
| Company, the roles of a CEO and in particular, the | | | | organizations. They need a PPM tool that |
| role of the VP of Operations, are very project | | | | compares one project against another and then |
| centric. The success of the company is based | | | | makes recommendations on how to best |
| on the profitability of the projects it undertakes. | | | | proceed. Does the benefit outweigh the risk? |
| With so much riding on the success of the | | | | Does the project align with corporate |
| projects, executives have shown an increased | | | | objectives? Should more resources be allocated |
| interest in how projects are selected and | | | | to one project over another? Which project will |
| managed. | | | | provide the highest ROI? Project Portfolio |
| To ensure success, Executives want a | | | | Management helps answer all of these questions, |
| standardized and automated approach to project | | | | helping CEOs do their jobs better, leading to higher |
| management. They want to see projects that | | | | company profits and happier customers. |
| are on time and on budget. Project portfolio | | | | |