Not the Answer We Expected
In the report "Finding Project Management Performance Benchmarks", the authors state:
"The Performance Benchmarks series of reports provide metrics results and key observations from focused benchmarking efforts. Project Management, the first report in this series, details compelling metrics data from 26 organizations that represent a diverse group of industries, structures, revenue classes, and project types. Top performers were interviewed about their individual critical success factors in five key areas:
- Actual cost of projects as a percentage of budgeted costs,
- Percentage ofprojects completed on budget,
- Percentage of projects completed on time,
- Average time ahead/behind schedule for primary projects, and
- Actual primary project hours as a percentage of budgeted hours.
This report is the first in a new series from APQC with a singular focus on metrics results. The report details project management activities that are relevant across industries, such as office set-up, factors relating to project value and duration, resource leveling, project manager training, and documenting project management processes."[5]
Well, well. Not a mention of metrics for customer satisfaction, let alone value to the sponsoring organization in terms of contribution to corporate strategy. Sort of proves our point made earlier regarding the value of surveying organizations on their existing practices.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of all is the cost of the complete report: 121 pages for a mere $995US (non-member price). At that price the Project Management Institute's OPM3, albeit the efforts of unpaid volunteers, has to be a positive give away at only $345US. Perhaps the cost of knowledge is too expensive to structure?
5. APQC Document ID: 113180, published 10/6/03
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American Productivity & Quality Center Perspective