- Navigating Project Success in a V.U.C.A. World
In our Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (V.U.C.A.) world, businesses must navigate rapid technological shifts, geopolitical disruptions, and evolving market demands. These present a dynamic and challenging environment for projects to operate in, wherein on time and under budget are no longer enough to determine success of a project.
PMI’s 2024–2025 Maximizing Project Success reports show the reality: only about 49% of projects are seen as fully successful, 12–13% are clear failures, and many fall into a mixed middle ground. The top causes of failure, include:
- Focus on execution over outcomes (affects 93% of projects)
- Unclear vision or success criteria upfront (affects 14%)
- Incomplete measurement systems (affects 63%)
- Poor stakeholder alignment (30-40% of projects across industries)
- Rigid constraints (majority of projects)
- No alignment with sustainability or social impact (affects 78%)
- Failure to intervene when projects are at risk (affects 45%)
Redefining Project Success
Finishing on schedule and within budget is no longer sufficient for project success. Rather, it’s about delivering value worth the time and money, as per PMI’s research published as Project Success Report 2024 and 2025. The need is to move from tactical delivery to strategic value creation.
PMI’s M.O.R.E. framework guides this transition
Manage perceptions to shape stakeholder views and build consensus; Own success by taking full accountability for outcomes and minimizing waste; Relentlessly reassess to adapt to changes through ongoing risk management; and Expand perspective to align with broader goals, including sustainability.
Leading with M.O.R.E involves:
- Defining success criteria upfront clarifying what “worth it” looks like and preventing disagreements.
- Comprehensive measurements (criteria + tracking + risks) enable data-driven adjustments
- Strong stakeholder alignment matches expectations
- Proactive risk management rescues at-risk projects, turning potential failures into wins.
A Practical Blueprint for Better Results
To make M.O.R.E. framework easy to understand and implement, we describe the actions required with help of Stephen R. Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
- Private Victory (build personal leadership):
- Habit 1: Be Proactive → Shape stakeholder perceptions early and often.
- Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind → Set a clear, shared vision of success focused on value.
- Habit 3: Put First Things First → Own the outcomes, prioritize what matters, and track real results.
- Public Victory (work well with others):
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win → Create agreements that benefit everyone involved.
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand → Listen deeply to stakeholder concerns before explaining your view.
- Habit 6: Synergize → Collaborate to find creative, high-impact solutions.
- Renewal (stay effective long-term):
- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw → Regularly reassess progress and keep improving.
This hybrid approach transforms project managers from tactical executors into strategic value creators.
Your next step is straightforward
By embracing Covey’s character ethic with PMI’s M.O.R.E., organizations can slash failure risks, elevate impact, and consistently deliver projects stakeholders deem truly “worth it.”.
- Assess your projects to determine gaps
- Apply the 7-habits on your next project
- Transform projects from “on-time/on-budget” to truly “worth it”.