Creating Experience-Driven Organizational Culture

Al Zeitoun, Ph.D., PgMP, is a PMI Fellow with global experience in portfolio/program/project management and strategic change, leading operational excellence for large corporations. Over the years he played key leadership roles that contributed to strategy execution excellence results across industries. He has also been an executive coach, an educator, and a keynote speaker. Dr. Zeitoun built the internal organizational capabilities to support strategic operations and cultural readiness for complex programs and digital transformations worldwide.He contributes to multiple publications such as his consistent articles in the Project Management World Journal. His Board expertise include his past service on the PMI Global Board of Directors.

Preface xiii

Background: What Inspired This Book xvii

Section I Experience-Driven Innovation with Portfolio of Projects 1

Section Overview 1

Section Learnings 1

Introduction 2

1 Innovation in the World of Projects 5

1.1 The Holistic View 5

1.2 Portfolios of Projects Matter 8

1.3 The Speed of Innovating 9

1.4 Managing Transformation Matters 10

1.5 The New Strategist 14

1.6 Collaborating Across Diverse Views 15

1.7 Aligning Stakeholders 17

1.8 Championing Innovation 18

Reference 20

2 Creating Experiences 23

2.1 The Changing Ways of Working 24

2.2 Experiences Matter 26

2.3 Innovation Labs 28

2.4 Creating a Connected Ecosystem 29

2.5 Thinking Culture 34

Reference 36

3 Driving Integration 39

3.1 The Portfolio, Program, and Project Link 40

3.2 The Portfolio Management Professional 51

3.3 The Value Focus 52

3.4 Integrating with Simplicity 53

3.5 Integrating Stories 59

Reference 61

Section II Essential Skills to Lead Experience-Driven Cultures 63

Section Overview 63

Section Learnings 63

Introduction 64

4 Project Impact Muscle 65

4.1 The Future of Work 66

4.2 Leading Projects 67

4.3 Impact Matters 72

4.4 Building Project Muscles 77

Reference 79

5 Effective Experiencing 81

5.1 Experience-Driven Features 82

5.2 Continual Adapting 103

5.3 Social Leadership 104

5.4 Creating a New Mindset 106

5.5 Sustaining Creativity 107

Reference 109

6 Human Connection 111

6.1 The Power of Bridging 112

6.2 Communicating with Impact 117

6.3 The Portfolio Success Link 119

6.4 Experience-Driven Mastery 120

6.5 The Inspiring Leader 122

References 128

7 Digital Fluency 131

7.1 AI Has Many Edges 131

7.2 The Digital Experience 133

7.3 Innovating with Intelligence 139

7.4 Creating the New Human 141

7.5 The New Human Attributes 148

7.6 Achieving Balance 149

Reference 160

Section III Creating Experience-Driven Cultures with Enterprise Portfolio Management Muscles 163

Section Overview 163

Section Learnings 163

Introduction 164

8 Building the Experience-Driven Culture 165

8.1 Success Ingredients 166

8.2 Tone Matters 167

8.3 Value-Based Decision-Making 172

8.4 Building Momentum 176

References 177

9 Sustaining Cultural Excellence 179

9.1 Simplicity of Powerful Culture Ethos 179

9.2 Resiliency in Leadership 181

9.3 The Ownership Culture 182

9.4 Trust Foundation Building 189

9.5 Sustaining Supporting Behaviors 191

10 Enterprise Portfolio Management Muscles 207

10.1 The Portfolio Management Ecosystem 208

10.2 The Critical Skills for Portfolio Management 210

10.3 Aligning the Enterprise 215

10.4 Decision-Making Excellence 217

References 228

10.5 Portfolio Management Maturity 229

11 The Adaptable Future Organization 235

11.1 The Dynamic State of Tomorrow’s Organizations 235

11.2 The Future Organizational Attributes 236

References 251

11.3 The Adapting Value 251

11.4 Balancing Steadiness with Change 260

11.5 Co-Created Execution Plans 263

11.6 Strategic Consistency 265

Section IV The Path Forward 269

Section Overview 269

S4.1 Strategic Opportunities 271

S4.2 Secrets for Leading and Driving 289

S4.3 Successful Transformations 295

References 304

S4.4 A Booz Allen Secret Sauce Example 306

S4.5 Innovation Excellence 311

Index 323