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Top 15+ Project Management Case Studies with Examples 2024

Home Blog Project Management Top 15+ Project Management Case Studies with Examples 2024

Having worked for more than 9 years in the dynamic field of project management, I would strongly refer to real-world case studies as invaluable resources for both budding and experienced professionals. These case studies provide critical insights into the challenges and triumphs encountered in various industries, illustrating the application of project management principles in practical scenarios.   I have curated the project management case studies as a part of this article in such a way that it delves into a selection of compelling case studies, ranging from the healthcare sector to infrastructure and technology. Each case study is a testament to the strategic planning, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving skills necessary in today's fast-paced business environment. These narratives not only highlight past successes but also offer guidance for future projects, making them essential tools for anyone eager to excel in project management.

What is Case Study?

A case study refers to an in-depth examination of a specific case within the real-world context. It is a piece of content that sheds light on the challenges faced, solutions adopted, and the overall outcomes of a project. To understand project management case studies, it is important to first define what a project is . A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end, aimed at achieving a specific goal or objective. Case studies are generally used by businesses during the proposal phase. However, they are also displayed on the websites of companies to provide prospects with a glance at the capabilities of the brands. It can even serve as an effective tool for lead generation. In simple words, case studies are stories that tell the target audience about the measures and strategies that the organization adopted to become successful.

What is Project Management Case Study?

A project management case study is a piece of content that highlights a project successfully managed by the organization. It showcases the challenges that the organization faced, the solutions adopted, and the final results. Keep reading in order to explore examples of successful project management case studies.

Top 15 Project Management Case Studies and Examples 

Are you looking for some project management case study examples? If yes, here are some of the best examples you can explore. Let’s dive in! Before diving in, here is the list of top 15 project management case studies: 

• Mavenlink Helps Improve Utilization Rates by 15% for BTM Global
• Boncom Reduces Billing Rate Errors by 100%
• whyaye! Reaches 80% Billable Utilization
• Metova Increases Billable Utilization by 10%
• Appetize Doubles Length of Forecasting Outlook
• RSM Improves Client Satisfaction and Global Business Processes
• CORE Business Technologies Increases Billable Utilization by 35%
• Health Catalyst Improves Business Processes and Increases Consistency in Project Delivery
• Optimus SBR Improves Forecasting Horizon by 50%
• PlainJoe Studios Increases Projects Closing Within Budget by 50%
• RPI Consultants Decreases Admin Time by 20%
• CBI's PMO Increases Billable Utilization By 30%
• Butterfly Increases Billable Time by 20%
• TeleTracking Increases Billable Utilization by 37%
• Taylors Improves Utilization Rates by 15%
• Hospital El Pilar improves Patient Care With implementing Disciplined Agile
• British Columbia’s Ministry of Technology and Infrastructure (MoTI)

1. Mavenlink Helps Improve Utilization Rates by 15% for BTM Global

The case study is all about how Mavenlink helped BTM Global Consulting to save hours of work and enhance utilization with resource management technology. BTM Global Consulting offers system development and integration services to diverse clients. The challenges that the company faced were that tools like Netsuite OpenAir and Excel spreadsheets were not able to meet the customization needs as the company grew. It impacted their overall productivity.

BTM Global saw the following benefits: 

• 15% increase in utilization for project managers
• 10% increase in companywide utilization
• 4-hour resource allocation work reduced to 10 minutes
• 100% Company-wide time tracking adoption

In order to overcome the challenge, the solution they adopted was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was that it increased the utilization of the company by 10% and enhanced project manager utilization by 15%. It also reduced resource allocation work from 4 hours to just 10 minutes.

2. Boncom Reduces Billing Rate Errors by 100% With Mavenlink

Boncom is an advertising agency that collaborates with different purpose driven brands to create goods worldwide. The challenge was that the company relied on several-point solutions for delivering client-facing projects. However, the solutions failed to offer the required operational functionality. An ideal solution for Boncom was to adopt Mavenlink. The result was that the billing rate error got reduced by 100%. Accurate forecasting became possible for Boncom, and the company could generate reports in much less time.

3. whyaye! Reaches 80% Billable Utilization with Mavenlink

Here are the top benefits whyaye got: 

• 6% increase in utilization
• Tripled company size
• Doubled in number of new clients every quarter
• Support through constant business scaling

whyaye is a digital transformation consultancy delivering IT transformation solutions to businesses operating in diverse sectors. The challenge was that whyaye used to manage resources and projects using tools such as emails, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Excel. However, with the growth of the company, they were not able to access project data or gain insights for effective management of the projects . The ultimate solution to this challenge was to make a switch to Mavenlink. The result was an increase in the utilization by 6%, doubling of new clients, tripling of the company size, and seamless support through business growth.

4. Metova Increases Billable Utilization by 10% With Mavenlink

If you are looking for a project planning case study, Metova can be the right example. Metova is a technology firm, a Gold Partner of Microsoft, and an advanced consulting partner of AWS. The challenge was that the company handled several projects at a time. However, its heavy dependence on tools like Google Sheets limited the growth capabilities of the organization. So, the company looked for a solution and switched to Mavenlink. The result was that it was able to increase its billable utilization by 10%, increase its portfolio visibility, and standardize its project management process.

5. Hospital El Pilar improves Patient Care With implementing Disciplined Agile

If you are looking for an example of one of the best hospital related project management case studies, then Hospital El Pilar can be the ideal one. Hospital El Pilar is a private hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, that provides comprehensive care to patients in various medical specialties. The challenge was that the hospital’s application development team faced several obstacles in managing and delivering projects, such as unclear priorities, a lack of visibility, little interaction with users, and competing demands. The solution that the team adopted was to use Disciplined Agile® (DA™), a flexible and pragmatic approach to project management that optimizes the way of working (WoW). The result was improved project outcomes, increased user satisfaction, greater transparency, and more trust from stakeholders and customers.

6. British Columbia’s Ministry of Technology and Infrastructure (MoTI) gets its principal corridor for transportation up in 35 days

Reconnecting Roads After Massive Flooding (2022) is a case study of how the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) used a project management approach based on the PMBOK® Guide to restore critical routes after a catastrophic weather event. It is one of the examples of successful project management case studies you can look into. The challenge was that an atmospheric river caused severe flooding, landslides, and bridge collapses, cutting off the lower mainland from the rest of Canada2. The solution was to prioritize the reopening of Highway 5, the principal corridor for transportation of goods and people, by creating scopes, work breakdown structures, and schedules for each site3. The result was that Highway 5 was reopened to commercial traffic in 35 days, despite additional weather challenges and risks4. The construction project management case study we discussed demonstrated the benefits of flexibility, collaboration, and communication in emergency response.

7. Appetize Doubles Length of Forecasting Outlook with Mavenlink

Here the the benefits Appetize got with Mavenlink: 

• Forecasting horizon increases to 12 weeks
• Management of 40+ major projects per quarter
• Support for rapid companywide scaling
• Salesforce integration supports project implementation

Appetize is one of the leading cloud-based points of sale (POS), enterprise management, and digital ordering platform that is trusted by a number of businesses. The challenge of the company was that its legacy project tracking systems were not able to meet the growing needs of the company. They experienced growth and manual data analysis challenges. The solution they found was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was an increase in the forecast horizon to 12 weeks, support for effective companywide scaling, easy management of over 40 major projects, and Salesforce integration for project implementation.

8. RSM Improves Client Satisfaction and Global Business Processes with Mavenlink

RSM is a tax, audit, and consulting company that provides a wide array of professional services to clients in Canada and the United States. The challenge of the company was that its legacy system lacked the necessary features required to support their work- and time-intensive projects and delivered insights relating to the project trends. An ideal solution to this challenge was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was better to risk mitigation in tax compliance, improved client-team communication, templatized project creation, and better use of the KPIs and project status.

9. CORE Business Technologies Increases Billable Utilization by 35% with Mavenlink

Here are the top benefits CORE Business Technologies got with Mavenlink: 

• Simultaneous in-progress projects doubled
• 100% company-wide time entry compliance
• 35% Increase in Billable Utilization
• 50% Increase in Team Productivity

Another top project management case study is the Core Business Technologies. CORE Business Technologies is a reputed single-source vendor self-service, in-person, and back-office processing to the clients. It offers SaaS-based payment solutions to clients. The challenge faced by the company was that its tools like spreadsheets, Zoho, and Microsoft Project led to a hectic work schedule owing to a huge number of disconnected systems. The solution to the challenge was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was the enhancement of team productivity by 50%, time entry compliance by 100%, and enhancement of the billable utilization rate by 35%.

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10. Client Success: Health Catalyst Improves Business Processes and Increases Consistency in Project Delivery with Mavenlink

Here are the top benefits Health Catalyst saw with Mavenlink:   

• Consistency in Successful Project Delivery 
• Improved Interdepartmental Communication 
• Deeper Resource Data Insights 
• Stronger Resource Forecasting

Health Catalyst is a company that delivers data and analytics services and technology to different healthcare organizations. The firm provides assistance to technicians and clinicians in the healthcare sector. The challenge of the company was that the tools like Intacct and spreadsheets that is used for project management were not able to provide the required data insights and clarity for better project management. It also limited effective resource management. The solution was to embrace Mavenlink. The result was better resource forecasting, enhanced interdepartmental communication, consistency in project delivery, and better resource data insights .

11. Client Success: Optimus SBR Improves Forecasting Horizon by 50% with Mavenlink

Optimus SBR is a leading professional service provider in North America. It offers the best results to companies operating in diverse sectors, including healthcare, energy, transportation, financial services, and more. The challenge was that legacy software tools that the firm used gave rise to project management issues. The company was not able to get a real-time revenue forecast or gain insights into its future financial performance. The solution that the company adopted was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was better data-driven hiring decisions, efficient delivery of remote work, and enhancement of the forecasting horizon by 50%.

12. Client Success: PlainJoe Studios Increases Projects Closing Within Budget by 50% With Mavenlink

Here are the benefits how Mavenlink helped PlainJoe: 

• Improved data insights for project success
• Enablement of fast shift to remote work
• Improved budgeting
• Increased rates in billing

PlainJoe Studios is an experimental design studio that focuses on digitally immersive and strategic storytelling. The company has a team of strategists, architects, and problem solvers to create value for the clients. The challenge of the company was that the manual processing of the company affected its ability to grow and manage the diverse project effectively. They lacked clarity about their project needs and profitability. The solution to deal with the challenge was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was an enhancement in the billing rates by 15%, better project closing within budget by 50%, better data insights for the success of different projects, and a faster shift to remote work.

13. Client Success: RPI Consultants Decreases Admin Time by 20% With Mavenlink

If you are looking for an example of one of the best software project management case studies, then RPI Consultants can be the ideal one. RPI Consultants offer expert project leadership and software consulting services for enterprise-level implementation of solutions and products. The challenge was that the task management solutions adopted by the company gave rise to a number of complications. It resulted in poor interdepartmental transparency and time-consuming data entry. The ultimate solution that the company embraced was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was a rise in the utilization rate by 5%, lowing of admin time by 20%, better forecasting and resource management, and a single source for gaining insights into the project data.

14. Client Success: CBI's PMO Increases Billable Utilization By 30% With Mavenlink

CBI is a company that is focused on protecting the reputations, data, and brands of its clients. The challenge that the company faced was that the solutions used were unable to meet the growing needs of the organization. The systems were outdated, data sharing was not possible, and time tracking was inconsistent. The solution to the challenge was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was better interdepartmental alignment, enhancement of time tracking to support business growth, an increase in the billable utilization rate by 30%, and detailed insights for a greater success of the projects.

15. Client Success: Butterfly Increases Billable Time by 20% with Mavenlink

Butterfly is a leading digital agency that provides digital strategy, website design and development services, and ongoing support to businesses across Australia. The challenge was that the different legacy systems used by the agency limited its capability of effective project management and reporting. The systems were time consuming and cumbersome. In order to deal with the challenge, the solution was to make a switch to Mavenlink. The result was the enhancement of billable time by 20%, fast reporting insights, enhancement of productive utilization by 16%, and better Jira integration.

16. Client Success: TeleTracking Increases Billable Utilization by 37% With Mavenlink

TeleTracking Technologies is a leading provider of patient flow automation solutions to various hospitals in the healthcare sector. The challenge of the company was that it used different systems such as Microsoft Excel, Sharepoint, MS Project, Jira, and Netsuite. The use of a variety of solutions created a number of challenges for the company. It had poor forecasting capability, an insufficient time tracking process, and unclear resource utilization. The solution was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was the enhancement of time tracking compliance by 100%, rise in hours to date by 18%, and enhancement of billable utilization by 37%.

17. Client Success: Taylors Improves Utilization Rates by 15% with Mavenlink

This is a perfect example of a construction project management case study. Taylor Development Strategists is a leading civil engineering and urban planning organization in Australia. The challenge that the company faced was that the systems that it used were not able to support the growth of the business. There were a lot of inefficiencies and limitations. The solution to the challenge was to switch to Mavenlink. The result was better global collaboration, an increase in the utilization rate by 15%, consistency of timesheet entry, and in-depth insights relating to utilization and project targets.

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Start Creating Your Project Management Case Study

Not that you have a detailed idea about project management case studies, it is time to prepare your own. When doing the project management case study exercise, make sure to focus on covering all the important elements. Clearly stating the challenges and the solutions adopted by the company is important. If you want to get better at project management, getting a PMP Certification can be beneficial.

Case Study Best Practices and Tips 

• Involve your clients in the preparation of the case study. 
• Make use of graphs and data. 
• Mix images, texts, graphs, and whitespace effectively.

Project Management Case Study Template 

To create a well-crafted and highly informative case study template in the realms of project management, you should start by providing a brief overview of the client's company, focusing on its industry, scale, and specific challenges. Follow with a detailed section on the challenge, emphasizing the unique aspects of the project and obstacles faced. Next, you might want to describe the solution implemented, detailing the strategies, methodologies, and tools used. Then, you would need to present the results, quantifying improvements and highlighting objectives achieved. Finally, please conclude the case study with a summary, encapsulating key takeaways and emphasizing the project's success and its implications for future endeavors. By following this structure, you can present a comprehensive yet concise analysis that is ideal for showcasing project management expertise and insights. You can also refer to the template for crafting a better case study on project management – Template for writing case studies .

By now, you must have gained a comprehensive knowledge of preparing a project management case study. This article elaborately explains the significance of real life project management case studies as vital tools for demonstrating a company's expertise in handling complex projects. These case studies, showcasing real-world scenarios, serve as compelling evidence of a firm's capability to navigate challenges and implement effective solutions, thereby boosting confidence in potential clients and partners. They are not only a reflection of past successes but also a lighthouse guiding future project endeavors in the discipline of project management within the fields of construction, pharmacy, technology and finance, highlighting the importance of strategic planning, innovation, and adaptability in project management. If you are aspiring to excel in this field, understanding these case studies is invaluable. However, you would also need to learn from project management failures case studies which would provide a roadmap to mastering the art of project management in today's dynamic business landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In order to write a project management case study, keep everything brief but mention everything in detail. Make sure to write it with clarity and include graphs and images. 

A project study must include information about the client, how your company helped the client in resolving a problem, and the results.

The best-case studies on project management have been listed above. It includes BTM Global, Butterfly, Boncom, and more.

Kevin D.Davis

Kevin D. Davis is a seasoned and results-driven Program/Project Management Professional with a Master's Certificate in Advanced Project Management. With expertise in leading multi-million dollar projects, strategic planning, and sales operations, Kevin excels in maximizing solutions and building business cases. He possesses a deep understanding of methodologies such as PMBOK, Lean Six Sigma, and TQM to achieve business/technology alignment. With over 100 instructional training sessions and extensive experience as a PMP Exam Prep Instructor at KnowledgeHut, Kevin has a proven track record in project management training and consulting. His expertise has helped in driving successful project outcomes and fostering organizational growth.

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Exploring Project Management Case Studies: A Comprehensive Guide

• January 25, 2024

Project management has become an essential skill for organizations to achieve their goals efficiently. By effectively managing projects, businesses can streamline processes, improve productivity, and ultimately drive success. To understand the intricacies of project management, it is crucial to explore various case studies that offer real-life insights into successful project management practices. This comprehensive guide aims to provide a deep dive into project management, highlighting key principles, methodologies, and the role of a project manager.

Understanding the Basics of Project Management

Project management is a crucial discipline that involves the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities. Its primary goal is to meet specific project requirements by carefully planning, executing, controlling, and closing projects within defined constraints. These constraints typically include factors such as time, cost, and scope. By effectively managing these elements, project managers aim to achieve predetermined objectives while ensuring efficient resource utilization.

Defining Project Management

At its core, project management is a multifaceted process that requires a comprehensive understanding of various project elements. It encompasses the coordination of tasks, resources, and stakeholders to achieve project goals. By employing proven methodologies and strategies , project managers can effectively navigate the complexities of project execution.

Successful project management involves breaking down complex projects into manageable tasks, establishing clear project objectives, and developing a well-defined project plan . This plan serves as a roadmap for the project, outlining the necessary steps, timelines, and deliverables. By having a solid plan in place, project managers can effectively allocate resources, manage risks, and monitor progress throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Principles of Project Management

Project management is guided by a set of key principles that serve as the foundation for successful project execution. These principles include:

• Clear Project Objectives: Clearly defining project objectives is essential for project success. By having well-defined goals, project managers can align project activities and ensure that everyone is working towards a common purpose.
• Effective Communication: Communication is a critical aspect of project management. Project managers must establish open lines of communication with stakeholders, team members, and other relevant parties to ensure that information flows smoothly and that everyone is kept informed about project progress.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle is vital. By involving stakeholders in decision-making processes and keeping them informed, project managers can gain valuable insights and ensure that project outcomes meet stakeholder expectations.
• Risk Management: Identifying and managing risks is an integral part of project management. Project managers must proactively assess potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. By addressing risks early on, project managers can minimize their impact on project outcomes.
• Continuous Improvement: Project management is an iterative process that requires continuous improvement . Project managers should regularly evaluate project performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions. By embracing a culture of continuous improvement, project managers can enhance project outcomes and drive organizational success.

The Role of a Project Manager

A project manager plays a pivotal role in the success of any project. They are responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing all project activities. Key responsibilities of a project manager include:

• Planning: Project managers develop comprehensive project plans that outline the necessary tasks, timelines, and resources required for successful project execution. They establish project objectives, define deliverables, and allocate resources accordingly.
• Team Management: Project managers are responsible for assembling and managing project teams. They assign tasks, provide guidance, and ensure that team members have the necessary resources and support to complete their work effectively.
• Communication: Project managers serve as the primary point of contact for all project-related communication. They facilitate effective communication between team members , stakeholders, and other relevant parties to ensure that everyone is aligned and informed.
• Decision-making: Project managers make critical decisions throughout the project lifecycle. They analyze information, evaluate options, and make informed choices that align with project objectives and stakeholder expectations.
• Monitoring and Control: Project managers continuously monitor project progress, track performance against established metrics, and implement necessary control measures. They identify deviations from the plan and take corrective actions to keep the project on track.

By fulfilling these roles and responsibilities, project managers act as leaders, decision-makers, and facilitators. They work closely with stakeholders to ensure that project goals are met, deliverables are achieved, and project outcomes align with organizational objectives.

The Importance of Project Management

Project management plays a crucial role in the success of organizations. It is a discipline that involves planning, organizing, and controlling resources to achieve specific goals and objectives. Effective project management ensures that projects are executed efficiently, meeting the desired outcomes while staying within the allocated budget and time frame.

Benefits of Effective Project Management

Effective project management offers numerous benefits to organizations. Firstly, it enhances collaboration among team members. By establishing clear roles and responsibilities, project managers facilitate effective communication and coordination, ensuring that everyone is working towards a common goal. This collaboration fosters innovation, creativity, and synergy among team members, leading to higher productivity and better outcomes.

Furthermore, effective project management promotes efficient resource allocation . Project managers carefully analyze the project requirements and allocate resources, such as manpower, equipment, and materials, in the most optimal way. This ensures that resources are utilized effectively, minimizing waste and maximizing productivity. By efficiently managing resources, organizations can achieve cost savings and improve their overall operational efficiency.

In addition, effective project management minimizes risks. Project managers identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. They create contingency plans and establish risk management processes to address any unforeseen events or challenges that may arise during the project. By proactively managing risks, organizations can minimize disruptions, avoid costly mistakes, and ensure the successful completion of projects.

Moreover, effective project management enables effective decision-making. Project managers gather relevant data, analyze information, and make informed decisions based on the project’s objectives and constraints. They consider various factors, such as cost, quality, and time, to make decisions that align with the organization’s overall strategy. This ensures that projects are executed in a way that maximizes value and achieves the desired outcomes.

Lastly, effective project management ensures projects are completed on time and within budget. Project managers develop detailed project plans, set realistic timelines, and monitor progress to ensure that projects stay on track . They closely monitor project costs and implement cost control measures to prevent budget overruns. By delivering projects on time and within budget, organizations can enhance customer satisfaction, build trust, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Consequences of Poor Project Management

Scope creep.

On the other hand, poor project management can have severe consequences for organizations. When project management is not effectively implemented, it can result in scope creep. Scope creep refers to the continuous expansion of project requirements beyond the initial scope, leading to increased costs, delays, and a loss of focus. This can strain relationships with stakeholders, as their expectations may not be met, and can ultimately lead to project failure.

Budget overruns

Poor project management can also result in budget overruns. Without proper planning and control, projects can exceed their allocated budgets, causing financial strain on the organization. This can lead to reduced profitability, cash flow issues, and potential financial losses. Additionally, budget overruns can negatively impact the organization’s reputation, as stakeholders may view the organization as inefficient or unreliable.

Missed deadlines

Missed deadlines are another consequence of poor project management. When projects are not effectively managed, timelines may not be realistic or properly monitored. This can lead to delays in project completion, causing frustration among stakeholders and potentially impacting the organization’s ability to deliver products or services on time. Missed deadlines can also result in missed business opportunities, as competitors may gain an advantage by delivering similar projects more efficiently.

Strain relationships with stakeholders

Furthermore, poor project management can strain relationships with stakeholders. When projects are not effectively communicated or managed, stakeholders may feel excluded or uninformed. This can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and a lack of trust in the organization’s ability to execute projects successfully. Strained relationships can have long-term consequences, as stakeholders may choose to disengage from future projects or seek alternative partnerships.

Damage a company’s reputation

Ultimately, failed projects can damage a company’s reputation. When projects fail to meet their objectives, it can erode customer confidence and trust in the organization’s ability to deliver on its promises. This can result in a loss of business opportunities, as potential customers may choose to work with competitors who have a track record of successful project execution. Additionally, failed projects can demoralize employees and create a negative work environment, impacting overall organizational performance.

In conclusion, effective project management is vital for organizations to achieve their goals and objectives. It offers numerous benefits, including enhanced collaboration, efficient resource allocation, risk mitigation, effective decision-making, and timely project completion. On the other hand, poor project management can have severe consequences, such as scope creep, budget overruns, missed deadlines, strained relationships, and damage to the organization’s reputation. Therefore, organizations should prioritize investing in project management practices and ensure they have skilled project managers who can effectively lead and execute projects.

Diving into Project Management Processes

Initiation phase.

In the initiation phase, project managers work closely with stakeholders to define project objectives and analyze feasibility. This phase involves identifying the project scope, clarifying deliverables, and assembling the project team. It sets the stage for the successful execution of the project.

Planning Phase

The planning phase is a critical stage where project managers develop a detailed roadmap for project execution. It involves defining project activities, estimating resources and timelines, identifying risks, and developing contingency plans. Effective planning ensures all project stakeholders have a clear understanding of project requirements and paves the way for seamless execution.

Execution Phase

In the execution phase, project plans are put into action. Project managers coordinate and oversee the project team, allocate resources, and monitor progress. Effective communication and collaboration are crucial during this phase to address any issues that may arise and keep the project on track.

Closure Phase

The closure phase signifies the completion of the project. Project managers conduct a final review to ensure all deliverables have been met, obtain stakeholder feedback, and document lessons learned. This phase allows organizations to celebrate successes, evaluate performance, and gather valuable insights for future projects.

Project Management Methodologies

Waterfall methodology.

The waterfall methodology is a linear approach to project management, where tasks are completed sequentially. It involves distinct phases, with one phase starting only after the previous one is finished. This methodology is ideal for projects with well-defined requirements and limited changes expected throughout the project lifecycle.

Agile Methodology

The agile methodology is an iterative and flexible approach to project management. It emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Agile projects are divided into short iterations called sprints, with frequent feedback loops, allowing for rapid adjustments and enhancements as the project progresses.

Hybrid Methodology

The hybrid methodology combines elements of both waterfall and agile methodologies. It allows project managers to tailor their approach based on project requirements and complexity. A hybrid approach offers the flexibility of agile methodologies while still incorporating structured planning and control from the waterfall model.

By delving into project management case studies, we can uncover valuable insights and lessons from successful projects. Understanding the basics of project management, recognizing its importance, and following established processes and methodologies sets the stage for achieving project goals efficiently. Whether you choose a traditional waterfall approach, an agile methodology, or a hybrid model, the key to project management success lies in effective leadership, collaboration, and adaptability.

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Project Management

The teaching cases in this section address the challenges related to implementation and scale faced by project managers in a variety of settings.

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Successful implementation is essential for achieving policymakers’ goals and must be considered during both design and delivery. The mission of this monograph is to provide you with a framework and set of tools to achieve success. The...

Different Approaches to Building a Unified Government Website in Argentina, Peru, and Mexico

Publication Date: August 21, 2020

Government digitization has proven to benefit both citizens and public agencies. On the one hand, citizens are able to find a consistent interface and reliable information on a single site and are able to access streamlined digital government...

Mothers of Rotterdam: Scaling a Social Services Program in the Netherlands

Publication Date: June 7, 2018

Board Chair Nanne Boonstra was about to learn the details of a scaling strategy proposal for Mothers of Rotterdam, a fledgling social service program that helped the city’s disadvantaged pregnant women.Boonstra’s employer, a venture...

Lesotho Hospital and Filter Clinics: A Public-Private Partnership Sequel

Publication Date: October 17, 2016

This sequel accompanies case number 1999.0. This case looks at a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Health Ministry for the government of Lesotho and a private consortium headed up by Netcare, a South African company, to build and...

Lesotho Hospital and Filter Clinics: A Public-Private Partnership

Publication Date: October 03, 2013

This case looks at a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Health Ministry for the government of Lesotho and a private consortium headed up by Netcare, a South African company, to build and operate a new referral hospital and four feeder...

TransMilenio: The Battle Over Avenida Séptima

Publication Date: May 10, 2011

In August of 2007, the mayor of Bogotá, Luis Eduardo Garzón, had to decide whether to proceed with plans to build a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Avenida Séptima, one of the most important transportation corridors in the...

California High-Speed Rail

Publication Date: November 18, 2010

In January 2010, the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) was waiting to hear whether the Obama Administration would approve its application for $4.7 billion in federal stimulus funding to begin the construction of a $50-billion,...

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Health Care & the Isolated Poor in the Lower Rio Grande Valley: The Quest to Make a Lasting Change (Sequel)

Publication Date: December 14, 2006

The spring of 2005 marked a tricky juncture for the leaders of a program designed to improve health care access for thousands of residents living in impoverished, isolated settlements just north of the Mexican border in the Lower Rio Grande...

Health Care & the Isolated Poor in the Lower Rio Grande Valley: The Quest to Make a Lasting Change

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Project Management Case Study Examples

Anshita Singh

By Simpliaxis

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In this article

Case study studies for project management present and contrasts actual project management scenarios and procedures. Project managers often face similar difficulties, which these studies have illuminated. To overcome challenges and produce successful outcomes, this aids project managers in creating methods that work.

Organisations may improve their operations using project management case studies, which offer insights into the most practical strategies. Providing a successful project completion is attainable with the appropriate application of these case studies, tactics, and procedures. These case studies provide an example of project management in action. You will be able to understand how theory and practice come together to address project management problems by studying actual instances.

What Is A Project Management Case Study?

A case study on project management is a written article showcasing a project the company has effectively managed. It displays the company's difficulties, strategies, and outcomes. Businesses typically use case studies in the proposal stage. They are often included on business websites to give customers a quick overview of the brand's capabilities. It can even be a valuable tool for generating leads. 

Project Management Case Studies With Examples

Taylors uses mavenlink to increase utilisation rates by 15%.

It is an excellent example of a case study on construction project management. Taylor Development Strategists is one of Australia's top urban planning and civil engineering firms. The company's problem was that the systems it was using could not keep up with the company's expansion. There were numerous shortcomings and inefficiencies. Making the move to Mavenlink was the answer to the problem. The outcomes were better international cooperation, a 15% increase in utilisation, consistent timesheet entry, and comprehensive insights on utilisation and project goals.

Billable Utilisation Rises by 37% with TeleTracking and Mavenlink

Healthcare institutions nationwide turn to TeleTracking Technologies as a top supplier of patient flow automation systems. Using many platforms, including Jira, Netsuite, Microsoft Project, Sharepoint, and Excel, presented a hurdle for the organisation. The organisation faced several issues as a result of using different solutions. Its ineffective time monitoring system, imprecise resource utilisation, and poor forecasting capacity were all present. Migrating to Mavenlink was the solution. Improvements in time tracking compliance of 100%, hours worked to date up 18%, and billable utilisation up 37% were the outcomes.

Butterfly Uses Mavenlink to Increase Billable Time by 20%.

Butterfly is a top digital agency offering businesses across Australia digital strategy, website design and development services, and continuous support. The issue was that the agency's capacity to manage projects and provide reports effectively was constrained by the various old systems it was using. The systems required a lot of time and effort. Better Jira integration, faster reporting insights, a 16% increase in productive utilisation, and a 20% increase in billable time were the outcomes.

CBI's PMO Uses Mavenlink To Increase Billable Utilisation By 30%

CBI's primary concerns are its clients' reputations, information, and brands. The company's problem was that the employed solutions couldn't keep up with the expanding demands of the corporation. There needed to be more data sharing, unreliable time tracking, and antiquated technology. Using Mavenlink was the answer to the problem. The outcomes were improved departmental coordination, improved time monitoring to facilitate business expansion, a 30% rise in chargeable utilisation, and comprehensive project success insights.

PlainJoe Studios Increases Projects Closing With Mavenlink Within Budget by 50%

Strategic and digitally immersive storytelling is the primary focus of PlainJoe Studios, an experimental design studio. The organisation employs a group of strategists, architects, and problem solvers to generate value for its clients. It needed to be more apparent because its manual procedures hindered its expansion and poor project management. They needed to be more transparent regarding the requirements and profitability of their project. Making the move to Mavenlink was the answer to the problem. As a result, there was a 15% increase in billing rates, a 50% improvement in project completion within budget, more significant data insights for various projects' success examples , and a quicker transition to remote work.

Optimus SBR Uses Mavenlink to Increase Forecasting Horizon by 50%.

Optimus SBR is one of North America's top professional services providers. Businesses across various industries, such as healthcare, energy, transportation, financial services, and more, can benefit from its finest outcomes. The problem was that the company's outdated software tools led to problems with project management. The business could not obtain a real-time revenue projection or financial performance predictions for the future. The company decided to go with Mavenlink as a solution. The outcomes were better data-driven employment decisions, more effective remote work delivery, and a 50% longer forecasting horizon.

CORE Business Technologies Uses Mavenlink to Increase Billable Utilisation by 35%.

CORE Business Technologies is a reputable single-source provider of back-office, in-person, and self-service processing for clients. It is respected. Clients can get SaaS-based payment solutions from it. The company's problem was that many disjointed systems caused a busy work schedule because of its tools, which included Microsoft Project, Zoho, and spreadsheets. Using Mavenlink was the answer to the problem. The end outcome was a 50% increase in team productivity, 100% compliance with time entry, and a 35% increase in the billable utilisation rate.

RSM Uses Mavenlink to Enhance Global Business Processes and Customer Satisfaction

RSM is a tax, audit, and consulting firm that offers clients in the US and Canada a broad range of professional services. The company's problem was that its old system needed the functionality to support their labour- and time-intensive projects or provide insights into project management trends . Making the move to Mavenlink was the best way to overcome this difficulty. The outcomes were better risk minimisation in tax compliance, more client-team communication, templated project creation, and more effective utilisation of KPIs and project status.

Appetize Uses Mavenlink to Double Forecasting Outlook Length

Appetize is a highly reputable cloud-based platform for digital ordering, enterprise management, and point of sale (POS) systems. The company needed assistance because its outdated project monitoring tools could not meet its growing needs. They needed help with manual data analysis and growth. Making the move to Mavenlink was the answer they discovered. The outcome included extending the forecast period to 12 weeks, facilitating efficient scaling throughout the entire organisation, simplifying the management of more than 40 significant projects, and integrating Salesforce to facilitate project execution.

Metova Uses Mavenlink to Increase Billable Utilisation by 10%.

Metova may be the ideal example for a case study on project planning that you are searching for. Metova is a technology company that is a consulting partner of AWS and a Gold Partner of Microsoft. The company's ability to manage multiple projects at once presented a hurdle. However, the organisation's capacity to grow by its excessive reliance on programmes like Google Sheets. As a result, the business turned to Mavenlink for a solution. As a result, it was able to standardise its project management procedure, raise portfolio visibility, and enhance billable utilisation by 10%.

How Do You Create Your Project Management Case Study?

A brief overview of the client's business with a focus on its size, industry, and unique issues can help you build a well-written and handy case study template for project management. Add a thorough project management challenge piece highlighting the unique features and difficulties. The solution should then be described, including the tactics, procedures, and equipment you would need, which would be necessary to showcase the outcomes, emphasise the goals reached and measure advancements. Ultimately, kindly provide a summary of the case study highlighting the main lessons learned, the project's accomplishments, and its implications for future work. 

If you follow this format, you can give a thorough but concise analysis that highlights your knowledge and ideas about project management. You may also use the project management case study template found at Template for writing case studies to help you write a better one.

Tips And Best Practices For Case Studies

If you plan to make a successful case study, here are some tips to help. 

• Get your clients involved in the creation of the case study. 
• Make use of data and graphs. 
• Effectively combine text, graphs, photos, and white space.

Understanding Project Management Techniques across various industries is possible with the help of Simpliaxis' project management training programmes . This certification gives you the skills to tackle any situation with real-world case studies demonstrating effective techniques and solutions. This course includes all the skills you need to succeed in technology, finance, construction, and pharmacy: strategic planning, innovation, and adaptation. Seize the chance to improve your project management abilities and establish yourself as a highly sought-after expert. Start your journey to project management excellence by enrolling with Simpliaxis today!

FAQ’s 

• What format does a case study follow?

Reports and essays are the most common formats for case studies. If the latter, you will typically discover that your work is easily navigable by headers and subheadings.

• What are the ways to analyse a case study?

Carefully read the case and any related questions. Draw attention to the primary arguments made in the case and any problems you see. Analyse the tasks that the questions ask you to perform after carefully reading them. Reread the case, making connections between the details that pertain to each question posed to you.

• What goals does the case presentation want to achieve?

The following are the goals of the case presentations: 1) Encourage interns to approach daily clinical practice using an evidence-based, scientist-practitioner model. 2) Get comfortable with presenting. 3) Sharpen your clinical abilities. 4) Address inquiries and criticism professionally.

     4.  Which are the best-case studies on project management?

The Apollo 11 moon landing project, the construction of the Sydney Opera House, and the Panama Canal project are a few of the best case studies for project management. These well-known projects provide examples of creative problem-solving, efficient planning, and good project management.

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Project Management Examples: Success Stories Case Studies, and Examples

By Kate Eby | January 3, 2023

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The best real-world project management starts with meticulous planning and ends with achieving goals. Take charge of your next project with the techniques and tools that experts use to avoid failure and deliver stellar results.

In this article, learn about eight real-world project management examples , project success criteria , five famous project management failures , and how modern project management software supports success .

Successful Real-World Project Management Examples

Successful real-world project management examples have one thing in common: they support company strategy. Examples show how detailed research, planning, and organization of resources helped real-world project managers achieve a particular aim that moves the organization forward.

Successful project management examples reveal that, in order to reach the final goal, you must have and maintain a big-picture view. Other success factors include involving stakeholders, reviewing multiple frameworks and solutions, and keeping the lines of communication open.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Case Study: Increased Outpatient Surgical Center Performance

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is a 357-bed not-for-profit community hospital and trauma center in Santa Clarita, California. Jay Arcilla, Director of the Performance Excellence Office, is charged with studying and adapting the functions and processes to increase the achievement of desired outcomes, better meet patients' needs, and assure quality. 

• Challenge: In every hospital, starting the day's first scheduled in-patient or out-patient surgery on time has a knock-on effect on subsequent surgery timelines. Meeting schedules can always be challenging. The pandemic created even more hurdles, from having the right supplies and equipment on hand to keeping up with documentation and ensuring the right personnel are available to cover every patient's needs. Arcilla focused on raising surgery on-time start times to 70 percent. 

• Work Sessions: A team work session helps frontline staff analyze the root cause and create a consensus-driven, interdisciplinary team.

•  Communication: Disseminating information and encouraging discussion for all stakeholder groups.
•  Accountability: The operating room executive leadership created and enforced an Outpatient Surgery Center First Case On-Time Start (OPSC FCOTS) Escalation Plan, holding all staff accountable for showing up to first cases on time.
• Takeaway: In complex, multi-layered project situations, there is often no single silver bullet. Instead, results manifest over time. In this case, within seven months, monthly performance went past the 70 percent target to 89 percent for April 2022.

Behr Process Corporation Case Study: Paving the Way for Road Show Marketing Achievement 

Behr is one of the largest purveyors of architectural paint and exterior wood care products in the United States and Canada. Lisa Kudukis, Director of Professional Products and Services for the Behr Process Corporation , oversees promotions, including a major road show.

• Challenge: Kudukis created the BehrPro Experience Tour to connect with U.S. contractors. The annual event employs five tour teams covering 75 markets and 500 Home Depot locations in 34 states. Initially, each manager used different tools and organizational tactics to run their activities. Supervising people and processes and collaborating to maximize efforts was challenging. The Behr marketing team needed a way to operate more efficiently and stay on task. 
• Solution: After an exhaustive review, Kudukis chose Smartsheet as the group's project management tool. Everyone on the team now uses a single, custom template. A master dashboard relays information about key initiatives and features a drill-down menu so anyone with access can check on small details.  
• Takeaway: For the team, it is a huge time and money saver since anyone can view the project status and provide assistance if necessary. It also helps the team identify new business development opportunities or obstacles to inform future promotions and projects.

Successful Software Project Examples

Software projects involve generating an overall plan, scheduling, allocating resources, executing, tracking, and delivering quality software and apps. These examples show that successful software projects deliver the product with the pre-agreed level of quality within the given time and cost. 

Software companies create, change or maintain valuable products. Software project management is one of the most complex and fastest-growing endeavors in business today.

Hyland Software: More Responsive Updates and Website Requests

Jacob Huston-Lowery manages web operations at Hyland Software , a content services platform and developer of Onbase, an enterprise content management (ECM) and process management software suite. Hyland cuts dozens of hours from the website request process while capturing data to drive ongoing improvement for its clients. Clients include insurance, manufacturing, higher education, and finance businesses that provide web-based services to their customers.

• Challenge: Providing efficiency and seamless services is paramount to maintaining Hyland's standards. Service requests from internal staff who noticed system issues, along with those on behalf of customers, created log jams and confusion. When Huston-Lowery came on board, there were five different contact forms, and some requesters were bypassing the process and sending emails. 
• Solution: Huston-Lowery turned to Smartsheet to find an easy-to-use solution for the critical challenges his team faced. Using project messaging and alerts within the app helped eliminate email delays. When users complete an online form with an alert for urgent projects, Smartsheet routes website requests to a sheet Huston-Lowery manages. As requests come in, all projects are prioritized, scheduled, and assigned to team members or third-party website management agencies.
• Takeaway: By replacing email trails with built-in alerts and update capabilities, the Smartsheet solution saves communication time and eliminates duplication. The ability to handle requests strategically helps the team implement a support program that runs 24 hours a day, 5 days a week – a process that was impossible before instituting the new project management process.

Examples of Successful IT Projects

Information technology (IT) projects ensure that software, devices, and systems work together to help people get things done. 

Managing IT projects and creating efficient IT project plans involve all aspects of planning, design, implementation, project management, and training.

Convergint: A Single System of Record Improves Processes and Customer Service

Jenn Hilber is the Business Architect, Operations for Convergint , the largest privately held security integrator in the United States. Convergint has more than 175 locations worldwide, providing a range of services, including installation and management of card readers and cameras, alarm systems, fire systems, building controls, and more.

•  Challenge: The company prides itself in creating an outstanding customer experience, but managing all the details seamlessly was difficult. Convergint relied on manual practices and printed playbooks, with no single unified process for most of its activities.
•  Solution: Convergint turned to Smartsheet to capture all of its data, best practices, and resources in a single place. As a result, teams can make strategic decisions and act on customer priorities with confidence knowing that they have the most current and accurate information at their fingertips.
• Takeaway: Convergint teams now enjoy better cross-team and global communication, a clearer insight into customers' needs and status, and greater accountability for internal processes. Customers also experience quicker turnaround time for requests.

Exoft: Shifting to Mixed Methodologies Rescue an IT Project Management Client Relationship

Bohuslava Zhyvko is Head of Marketing for Exoft , a software development services company located in Lviv, Ukraine. Exoft builds robust web and mobile solutions with a focus on increasing clients' efficiency and solving technology challenges. 

• Challenge: Zhyvko began a new assignment with an IT client previously managed by another project manager. Zhyvko learned the IT client didn't want to hear about Agile methodology or process at Exoft; he simply wanted to complete his project ASAP. 
• Solution: Zhyvko immediately requested a kick-off conference call. During the call, she discussed the goal and purpose of the project and clarified the main issues that were creating stress points. After the call, Zhyvko gathered the team and included Exoft's CTO. The weaknesses of the client's planning and reporting systems became apparent, and Zhyvko offered the solution: Agile, after all. The team used a mix of Scrum and Kanban to replace Waterfall , which wasn't the right approach for the nature and goals of the project. They divided the project's scope into milestones and sprints, then switched the look of the workboard in Jira. Zhyvko supplied the client with a process improvement proposal and SOW with all the features he wanted. Zhyvko explained how the project's formal change request procedure worked and shared the documentation, so the client could clearly understand the development process, which they accepted and signed.
• Takeaway: After three months, when two milestones were closed, the client was pleased with the deliveries and the Scrum working process. The project concluded after milestone 11 with a client who was pleased with the outcome. His startup is growing extremely fast, and the company and Zhyvko have an excellent relationship. Solid planning, reporting, and communication can turn around even the most complex project management challenge.

Examples of Successful Completed Business Projects

Efficiently reaching project objectives is a key element of project management success. Efficiency relates to how the project’s limited resources are managed to meet its goals while building good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Whirlpool: Regional Alignment for Smoother Operations

Thiago Zapparoli is a Senior Planning Engineer at Whirlpool Corporation . The global home appliance company relies on regional project managers to manage its extensive portfolio.

• Challenge: When you're responsible for managing a project portfolio of a global home appliance company — including approximately 400 individual projects across five worldwide regions — you need a comprehensive system to keep everything on track. That's why Zapparoli looked for a way to get project managers, leadership, and other stakeholders on the same page with the laundry and dryer portfolio he manages.
• Solution: Zapparoli knew he needed an effective and unique system for all project managers to aggregate the 400 projects that covered multiple regions around the globe. At a minimum, the project management system needed to identify responsibilities for each project and task; key performance indicators; and open, completed, and delayed tasks. Smartsheet offered an all-up view of an entire region, providing real-time visibility into the overall project status and numerous tasks. First deployed in Brazil, the holistic tracker transformed how the 10 project managers and cross-functional leaders in that region approach their daily work and stay in sync.
• Takeaway: After implementations in Brazil and the United States, Zapparoli’s Smartsheet trackers are used in all three remaining regions and assisted deployment in four other Whirlpool internal organizations. Project managers are engaged because they have control over projects. Cross-functional leaders are satisfied with the visibility, and senior leadership can now see how they can help.

Simplus: Improved Sales Process

Katherine Albiston is a Content Manager for Simplus , an Infosys company that provides a strategic, industry-focused digital transformation for customers in the Salesforce ecosystem. She shares how Simplus’ customer Ziehm Imaging needed to improve its sales process to garner maximum efficiency and profits, as well as the company’s solution for them.

• Challenge: Simplus customer Ziehm Imaging, Inc. was using a legacy configure, price, quote (CPQ) system process for defining new products or modifying bundles. As a result, it took up to a week to go to market. A Microsoft Excel-based process further complicated managing market-specific annual pricing updates, which required a manual price override to apply pricing for each segment. The manual work increased errors, eroded margins, and led to customer communications about pricing adjustments – not good for relationships. 
• Solution: Simplus simplified Ziehm's bundle configuration process and centralized compatibility management rules. It now uses a lookup-based rules setup for products that enforces business policies in real time as sales reps interact with the CPQ system. 
• Takeaway: Streamlining and installing coherent systems decreased Ziehm's quote creation time by 93 percent, troubleshooting time by 87 percent, and the time to add products by approximately 87 percent. The lesson is clear: A holistic approach to process improvement can reap impressive benefits.

designdough: A More Refined Recruitment Process

Molly Govus is the Marketing Manager of designdough , a full-service U.K. design firm. The company tightened its use of project and time management tools to run projects and realized it needed to do the same for managing internal projects.

• Challenge: designdough audited its recruitment process and discovered four key issues: Permanent and temporary staffing ebb and flow was always in flux depending on client project demands. There were no clear start-to-finish timescales, and they lacked transparency with staff regarding project timescales. Staff capacity related to assigned tasks was unclear. Finally, the firm lacked designated client communication points.  
• Solution: They started by planning and documenting every resource and task using a project management tool that provided visibility for all team members. They wanted to clarify the audit's issues and organize information and project processes around recruiting by implementing clearly delineated stages (Administration, Interview, Offer, Induction, and Confirmation). Now, they set start dates for each step and complete tasks before moving to the next stage. Additionally, they add relevant tags, such as meeting , to tasks so they can easily identify who is assigned the task assignment and dates attached to every job. 
• Takeaway: Thanks to a straightforward process and an efficient project management tool, the team met its recruitment project goals. They now encounter fewer bottlenecks and have an easier recruitment process that has improved staff and client satisfaction and relationships.

What Is the Measure of Project Success?

The measure of project success is meeting the initial criteria established by the internal or external client and the project team. Teams use these specs, milestones, and deliverables to evaluate a project after it closes. 

“Project managers are experts at helping people define problems,” notes J. Scott, CEO of 120VC and author of The Irreverent Guide to Project Management . “Data drives and measures success to control the outcome and move the project forward as aggressively as possible, leaving no time or money on the table.”

In its 2020 report, “Ahead of the Curve: Forging a Future Focused Culture,” the Project Management Institute (PMI) found that organizations that operated from mature ROI capabilities geared toward meeting strategic goals, working within predetermined budgets, delivered segments and the entire project on time with limited scope creep . High-maturity companies had 50 percent fewer project failures than low-maturity organizations.      

A success measurement framework includes:

• Buy-In: Worthy projects and outstanding ideas can fail if critical stakeholders aren't behind the effort. With buy-in, resources will be available, and you can move the project forward.
• Strategic Approach: One of the best ways to guarantee buy-in is to make a business case that shows how the project fits into overall company goals and will positively impact the organization’s future. According to an article on the six questions to ask before starting a big project in the Harvard Business Review, a good distribution of resources is 60 percent in support of the core business, 30 percent in the adjacent business area, and 10 percent unrelated to your core business.
• Meticulous Planning: Completing projects on budget and on schedule relies on thorough advanced planning. Professional planning includes defining the scope and objectives of the project and operating from an understanding of the resource and budget limitations that affect your project. 
• Continuous Monitoring: Once the project begins, it's essential to monitor all activities, resources, and expenditures almost constantly. You will likely find that you’ll need to make adjustments to some elements in every project. You will want to monitor the execution of tasks against milestones, keep an eye on quality, track whether you are on schedule, and verify money is spent according to plan. 
• Make Relationships a Priority: Stay in touch with clients, vendors, and internal team members to stay informed about project status and build relationships. Once the project concludes, check in with stakeholders to see what worked and what didn't so that you can apply winning strategies and tactics to subsequent projects.

Setting Success Metrics

For the best results, the only way to measure project failure or success is by collecting and tracking data from the first day until the project closes. "You can't manage what you don't measure" is Peter Drucker’s time-honored adage for setting project success metrics. 

Management consultant Drucker's gold standard in project management metrics is his specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound goals framework, known as SMART . To start setting those strategic types of project metrics, the Performance Management Institute (PMI) suggests asking three questions to inform the metrics you will use to measure the success of your project .

 The key questions to help set metrics are the following:

• Why is the project needed? Understand the purpose or goal of the project or work.
• What are the success factors? Determine what critical success factors are mandatory for you to succeed and achieve the goal.
• What are the metrics? Identify how you will measure the fulfillment for each critical success factor for the project or program, and collect and share data.

Common Project Management Success Metrics

Metrics for on-target project management track productivity, assess resource utilization, monitor the scope of work changes, and measure quality. Assuring a low number of defects throughout the project and providing a quality deliverable at its end should be a metric for any project. 

Examples of crucial project metrics include the following:

• Resource Utilization: This metric assesses how individual team members or the project team spend their time against the total number of hours allocated for the project. Periodically checking time spent on the project can help assess how human energy is being used. For organizations that bill hours, this is an important metric to monitor and review at the end of a project.
• Schedule Variance: This metric helps project managers determine if projects are running according to the planned budget or ahead of it. A negative schedule variance means the project is behind schedule.
• Cost Performance: This metric measures efficiency. Divide the work performed or earned value by how much money it took to accomplish tasks. Accurate budget estimates rely on forecasting cost performance. 
• Cost Variance: This metric pinpoints how you are operating within a planned budget. The purpose is to see if you are running below or within budget. If cost variance is negative, the project is over budget. If it’s under budget, that means you are achieving budget and project success.
• Gross Margin: A strategically planned project aims to contribute to the company by increasing profits. The gross margin is the difference between the total income and total project spend. It’s best to establish the gross target margin before a project begins and measure it on an ongoing basis. Achieving or exceeding a gross margin is the primary mark of project management excellence.

With project metrics in place and the right tools to track that data, it is easier to crunch the numbers on previous projects to see what went right and what task ended up causing a significant delay.

What Skills and Tools Support Project Management Success?

You need various tools and skills to guide projects to the desired goal. Soft skills are people skills or emotional intelligence. Hard skills are specific to project managers and can be learned through formal training or on the job. 

The exact project management techniques and tools you need depend on your industry, company, and team preferences. The vital foundation for success is to create your project plan and lean into best practices that focus on organization, communication, and team leadership. "There are many methodologies project managers employ," says 120VC’s J. Scott. "Waterfall, Agile, Lean, and more – but the most important skill to have is leadership and a people-centric framework since it is people that get [expletive] done.”

Project management skills and tools to help you meet project management challenges – and win –  include the following:

• Soft Skills: Soft skills are interpersonal skills such as communication, flexibility, leadership, teamwork, and time management.
• Project Management Tools: Tools is another word for software. Purpose-built project management software supports teams in the planning, tracking, and managing of projects to meet stated goals on time and within budget. These also serve as a repository for data that will inform the post-project analysis.
• Project Management Methodologies and Frameworks: The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide describes all the PM methodologies and techniques available to manage projects. Project managers choose frameworks such as Critical Chain Project Management, Lean, Scrum, and Waterfall for their projects.

Reasons Projects Fail and How Modern Project Software Supports Success

Projects fail for many reasons. Those include inadequate preparation, poor documentation and tracking, and poor communication. Modern project software can help solve those problems and support success. 

"Project management, particularly at the enterprise scale, is about getting to desired outcomes as efficiently as possible under any conditions," says 120VC's Scott. "You must be agile (with a lowercase a) to get things done to reach those outcomes." Modern software is the way forward.

“IT projects have an exceptionally high failure rate of 44 percent,” says Scott. “These projects fail due to a lack of alignment between business and project objectives. As software project failure statistics show, the lack of alignment of projects with the business objectives is why nearly half of the strategic initiatives fail.”

5 Famous Project Management Failures and How They Could Have Been Solved

Project management failures are part of most projects. The key is to learn from past failures and track projects closely to get back on track when things go awry. 

1. Citibank Interest Payment Failure Citibank intended to make a $7.8 million interest payment to creditors of its client Revlon. Instead, the company paid $900 million because of errors due to aging software. Citibank's employees set up a transaction as if they were paying off the entire loan to calculate the interest correctly, then check numerous boxes to deliver the majority of the sum to an internal Citibank account. Three different people signed off on this transaction, most of which wasn't due to creditors until 2023, but the Citibank employees didn’t check all the proper boxes. Creditors kept more than $500 million of the payment. A judge ruled that they didn't have to return the money because he said it was not believable that one of the largest and most sophisticated financial institutions on earth could make such a mistake. 

• Takeaway: The big lesson is to modernize your software and user interfaces, so employees can perform their duties in a streamlined, logical fashion. Remember: You might suffer less when you make mistakes if people aren't angry enough to take advantage of those errors.

2. J.C. Penney Rebrand Failure Ron Johnson, who has a successful branding track record, took over as J.C. Penney's CEO in 2011. Johnson's "cheap chic" rebranding for Target was enormously successful, as was his previous work with Apple to generate its outstanding and consistent brand experience. Defying expectations, Johnson's rebrand for Penney's was a dismal failure. His goal was to revitalize the chain by making "hip" changes. He wanted to shake things up at the company by doing away with sales and coupons, nixing some of the legacy merchandise, and modernizing the store’s physical layout. It failed miserably. Revenues dropped from an already low level, and after 17 months, Johnson was out.

• Takeaway: No matter how cool or innovative a new brand concept seems, robust market research is mandatory. J.C. Penney's poor financial state forced Johnson to act too quickly. As such, he failed to align the likes and dislikes of J.C. Penney's loyal existing customer base with new tactics. That's not to say the change involved in rebranding has to be totally at the mercy of your customers' extant preferences. When a brand has long-standing customer favorite factors such as discounts and coupons, it may be best to roll out changes slowly rather than all at once to acclimate existing customers to a new direction.

3. McDonald's Arch Deluxe Burger The fast food giant put an unprecedented $150 million into advertising for the Arch Deluxe Burger, only to discover its customers weren't interested in the sophisticated, ”gourmet” menu option. Mistakes include marketing to a new, disinterested Gen X demographic while neglecting the brand's core audience, overpricing the burger to cover the additional costs it took to create, and franchisee disinterest. 

• Takeaway: The message is to never ignore your buying base and pick the right metrics when you start and run a project. If McDonald's had a more accurate picture of what its customers wanted and conducted more testing with existing customers, the company could have saved its money, resources, and reputation. 

4. Dyson Electric Car James Dyson spent a small fortune – more than $600 million – on a seven-seat electric car with a 600-mile range. Then Dyson scrapped it before the prototype ever hit the road. Electric vehicles are costly, and the battery, battery management, electronics, and cooling system are much more expensive than an internal combustion engine. Tesla — hailed as a success by many — has burned through $19 billion of investor cash and is still not profitable. It turned out that each Dyson would have had to fetch roughly $183 million to break even. 

• Takeaway: The British government wants to ban sales of all fossil-fuel cars by 2035, so Dyson shifted its focus. The company continues to work on solid-state battery manufacturing. Solid-state batteries are the key to making electric vehicles functional and desirable. Highly efficient, as well as smaller and lighter than ion batteries, solid-state batteries generate less heat and are easier to recycle. Dyson says he could return to electric vehicle production when commercial and financial circumstances change.

5. Coca-Cola and New Coke The company tested New Coke with 200,000 consumers. Most people who tried it preferred New Coke over the traditional product. Based on that information, Coca-Cola launched New Coke in 1985. But the new product did not sell, and product loyalty and people’s old-fashioned habits got in the way. The cost to the company was $30 million in unsellable backstock and $4 million lost to development. New Coke remains one of the most famous failures in marketing history.

• Takeaway: While Coca-Cola researched the market, it missed the mark when assessing the power of brand loyalty. Understanding customers is imperative in product development. Ensure your information is comprehensive and those insights are realistic and accurate.

How Modern Project Management Software Cures Common Project Woes

Modern project management software provides real-time visibility into work conducted across projects, programs, and processes. Store, track, manage, and automatically report on all work, so you can save time and help your team focus on the work that matters most.

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The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed.

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time. Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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Case Studies

Learn about the people behind the projects, the projects they deliver and the organisations raising the bar of project professionalism. We recognise what people can achieve through project management, and have been celebrating excellence in the profession for over 20 years.

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Table of Contents

Understanding a Project Management Case Study

Importance of studying project management case studies, analyzing a project management case study, common mistakes in project management and how to avoid them, tips for studying project management case studies.

Introduction Project management is an essential discipline in today's business world, and understanding it through case studies can offer valuable insights. A case study is a detailed investigation of a specific project, allowing us to analyze its different aspects, such as planning, execution, and evaluation. It provides practical examples that aid in comprehending theoretical concepts and applying them effectively. In this article, we'll delve into this topic and offer tips and common error-prone cases to consider.

• A project management case study revolves around a real-life or hypothetical project. It describes the project's background, process, and outcome, providing the opportunity to evaluate its successes and shortcomings.
• The case study may describe various aspects of the project, such as its objectives, stakeholders, timeline, budget, risks, and results. The goal is to present a comprehensive picture of the project and its management.
• Case studies provide practical examples that enhance understanding. They can illustrate how project management theories and techniques are applied in real situations, thus supplementing textbook learning.
• Through case studies, students can learn from others' experiences. They can see how different project managers handled various challenges, what strategies worked, and what mistakes were made.
• To analyze a case study, start by reading it thoroughly to understand the project's context. Note the project's objectives, stakeholders, resources, constraints, and results.
• Identify the project management techniques used and assess their effectiveness. Consider whether different approaches could have led to better outcomes.
• Reflect on the lessons learned from the project. What can be applied to future projects? What mistakes should be avoided?
• Lack of clear objectives: A common mistake is not defining clear and measurable goals at the project's outset. To avoid this, ensure that project objectives are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• Poor communication: Miscommunication can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and project failures. To prevent this, establish clear communication channels and ensure regular updates among all stakeholders.
• Inadequate risk management: Many projects fail due to unforeseen problems. To mitigate this, conduct a thorough risk assessment at the project's beginning and devise appropriate risk management strategies.
• Take notes: While reading the case study, jot down key points. This will help you remember important details and make your analysis more effective.
• Discuss with peers: Case studies can be complex, and discussing them with others can provide new perspectives. Try to engage in group discussions or forums.
• Apply to real-world situations: Try to relate what you learn from the case study to real-life scenarios. This will help you understand the practical application of project management theories and techniques.

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4 Famous Project Management Failures and What to Learn from Them

October 8, 2018 | by greg bailey.

Every project begins with a single idea or goal, and the best of intentions. But as they progress, mistakes are made, communications break down, and deadlines and budgets change. It’s these problems that mean, even when projects are started for the right reasons,  55% of businesses experience failed projects. In fact, 17% of large-scale IT projects  go so badly that they threaten the very existence of the company.

Why do projects fail? And what leads to a failed project? This post will look at some project failure examples, including the worst-case scenarios, to identify the root cause of the problem, in the hope that we can ensure project managers don’t make the same fatal mistakes.

1. Ford Edsel

Ford Edsel is one of the most spectacular project failure examples in automotive history. Ford ’s team did extensive market research before it released the Edsel , even doing studies to make sure the car had the right ‘personality’ to attract the ideal customer . They spent 10 years and $250 million on research and planning—but by the time all this was completed, and the car was unveiled in 1957, Ford had missed its chance. The market had already moved on to buying compact cars, which didn’t include the Edsel.

Lessons learned: The Ford Edsel is the perfect fail project example that emphasizes the importance of speed to market and how even a major brand and product can fail if a project loses velocity. Poor communication and inaccurate deadlines can slow a project down to the point where it’s no longer relevant or valuable,  let alone successful.

Paying ultimate attention to areas like resource availability and utilization—ensuring project workers are working to capacity and to the best of their ability—creates more accurate project timeline estimations and stops projects from dragging.

2. NHS Civilian IT

Back in 2007, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) looked to revolutionize the way technology is used in the health sector, through the introduction of electronic health records, digital scanning, and integrated IT systems across hospitals and community care. They called it the ‘Civilian Computer System. ’ It would have been the largest of its kind in the world. But it failed because of contractual changes—including changing specifications, supplier disputes, and technical problems. Estimates of the cost of the now-abandoned project hover around the £11.4 billion mark.

Lessons learned: Change is almost inevitable during the course of a project, especially with large and complex ones like the NHS undertook. This is one of the most talked-about project failure examples that shows the importance of flexibility for achieving great results. You need to be able to react to changes as they occur, but also preemptively identify potential problems in order to stop them before they wreak havoc.

Project and resource modeling allows project managers to create a model where they can test, in real-time, the effects of changing or modifying their projects to keep ahead of schedule. So even in the event of unexpected changes, you’re prepared for what’s next.

3. Airbus A380

Building the Airbus A380—the world’s largest commercial aircraft at the time—required production facilities from across the globe to build individual parts of the airplane. Unfortunately, these teams used different computer-aided design (CAD) programs. During installation, they discovered the parts designed by different teams didn’t fit together. This cost the company $6 billion to put right and set the project back two years.

Lessons learned: The Airbus A380 is one of those failed projects examples that teach you the importance of proper workforce coordination. Unexpected problems will always be a challenge, but there are added challenges when your workforce is based remotely or in silos. For instance, it can take longer to report problems and coordinate the right response. If Airbus’s dispersed project teams had better-prioritized communication, the problem could have been solved before the installation phase, before it was too late.

When teams work across geographies, it’s important to set goals and metrics to ensure everyone understands their tasks, like what they’re expected to achieve and when. Resource management allows you to manipulate resource data in real time, so, if something goes wrong, the problem can be resolved as soon as possible. Using remote workers makes it difficult to gather everyone in a room, explain the problem, and find the solution. Resource management tools provide real-time reporting for full visibility over your resources, so you can instantly enact change.

4. Knight Capital

In 2012, when Knight Capital was brought on to work on new code for a new SEC program, an over-optimistic deadline caused them to go to production with test code. After production, a glitch cost the company  $440 million within the first 30 minutes of trading , and company stock fell 75% within just two days.

Lessons learned: You need a granular-level view of your projects to forecast how long a project will feasibly take to complete and avoid setting unrealistic targets or deadlines. Resource management is crucial in analyzing and utilizing project resources, so projects can be completed as efficiently as possible without the need to rush work or take shortcuts.

Avoid famous project management failure with resource management

The project failure examples listed above were carried out on a monumental scale—involving a sea of moving parts and relied on a lot of people to complete. While no project can guarantee success, resource management can help measure and manage the moving parts of a project. The right resource management solution can help a project manager gain more control over their projects , providing insight into every step of the process .

Tempus Resource is a sophisticated resource management software that includes practical functionality like modeling, forecasting and ‘What-If?’ analysis. Tempus Resource can help organizations of any size and any level of project maturity reduce the risk of project failure.

To find out more on how resource management can reduce the risk of project failure,  get in touch with ProSymmetry today .

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Resource Management: Process, Tools & Techniques

Businesses, nonprofits and even government agencies execute projects to improve the efficiency of their operations and achieve strategic goals. These projects require a variety of human and non-human resources such as raw materials, equipment and machinery, which need to be managed.

What Is Resource Management?

Resource management is the process of estimating what resources will be needed to complete a project, acquiring them, making a schedule for their allocation and monitoring their utilization during the execution of a project, program or portfolio of projects. Usually, the project manager or project management office (PMO) oversees this process, but some organizations have a resource manager who specializes in this area.

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Resource Planning Template

Use this free Resource Planning Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

What Is a Resource Manager?

A resource manager is a member of a project team or PMO who is responsible for leading the process of defining resource requirements, estimating costs, procuring resources and ensuring they’re properly allocated and utilized. One of its key responsibilities is to develop a resource management plan to guide the resource planning efforts of the organization.

What Is a Resource Management Plan?

A resource management plan is a document that describes all the different guidelines, operating procedures, tools and methods an organization uses to manage its resources over the execution of projects. For example, it should itemize project resources, indicate their estimated costs, a resource schedule for their allocation and supplier information, among other details.

However, a resource management plan doesn’t need to be a static document. You can use resource management software like ProjectManager to visualize your resource schedule, allocate resources and monitor their costs in real time. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Types of Resource Management

There are three broad resource management categories: project resource management, enterprise resource management and human resource management. As its name suggests, project resource management is the process of overseeing the use of resources such as labor, materials and equipment for the completion of project tasks. Enterprise resource management, on the other hand, consists of using these resources to manage the everyday operations of a business .

Enterprise resource management can be further divided into industry-specific types of resource management such as construction resource management and manufacturing resource management. Lastly, human resource management focuses on allocating human resources for both project and enterprise resource management.

Types of Project and Organizational Resources

Project resources can be simply defined as anything needed to execute project tasks , including the people executing the work. Here are some examples of project resources.

• Raw materials
• Human resources
• Machinery and equipment
• Financial resources
• Information and data

Why Is Resource Management Important?

Resource management is an important process for many disciplines such as project management , portfolio management and business management. Here’s how it helps in each of those fields.

Project Resource Management

Resource management is critical when managing projects. It’s important to identify your resource requirements during the initiation and planning phases of the project life cycle so you can estimate costs and create a project budget . Then it’s important to ensure you schedule the right resources at the right time so your project plan is completed on time.

Program and Project Portfolio Resource Management

Resource management is even more important for project portfolio management than it is for managing individual projects. The reason is program managers, portfolio managers and project management offices (PMOs) need to ensure they allocate resources strategically to manage multiple projects simultaneously. For example, they can minimize costs by using the same resources across projects.

Enterprise Resource Management

How you manage your business resources greatly affects its ability to function and grow beyond project or enterprise resource management, especially if you’re in resource-intensive industries such as professional services, construction or manufacturing.

Managing resources effectively has a myriad of benefits for your business such as helping you cut down costs, streamlining your operations planning and maximizing your profits.

What Is Resource Management Software?

Resource management software is a set of digital tools that can help with the stages of the resource management process. For example, ProjectManager is project resource management software equipped with tools such as Gantt charts , dashboards, timesheets, workload management charts and resource utilization reports.

There are many desktop-based and online resource management software alternatives, all of which offer a different functionality. For that reason, we’ve reviewed the best resource management software alternatives so you can make an informed decision.

Resource Management Tools

While most of these resource management tools started as analog charts, documents and diagrams, they’ve evolved and are now part of resource management software that can be used for either project or enterprise resource planning .

• Gantt chart: A Gantt chart helps organizations make a schedule for any project they’re executing and allocate resources such as team members, materials or equipment.
• Timesheet: Timesheets track employees’ work hours for payroll processing. They can either be used for tracking the time they spend completing project tasks or simply log hours from their work shifts.
• Workload management chart: A workload management calendar helps team leaders understand how work is allocated among their team members, so they can distribute the team’s workload evenly.
• Resource histogram: A simple bar chart that helps understand how resources are utilized over time.
• Resource breakdown structure: A chart that helps organizations break down projects into individual tasks and specify the resources that will be needed to execute each of them.
• Resource calendar: Resource calendars help organizations estimate what resources will be needed to complete a project on time.

Resource Management Process

As stated above, resource management is an ongoing process that starts during the project planning phase and continues until project closure. This is known as the resource management life cycle, which is made up of four stages that project managers should understand to properly manage project resources.

• Resource analysis: The process of gauging your current resource availability to determine what resources are missing for executing a project or action plan.
• Resource planning: A resource plan explains what your project resource requirements are and how they’ll be met. More importantly, it guides the team when it comes to resource management, so it should include information such as general guidelines, a description of your project resources, their quantities and when they’re needed.
• Resource scheduling: You then need to ensure that those resources are readily available. To do so, you’ll need to simply align your resource schedule with your overall project schedule and have a solid supply chain in place.
• Resource allocation: Resource allocation is an ongoing process that’s simply defined as picking the right resources at the right time to achieve project tasks. For example, there are critical tasks that need to be prioritized when creating the resource schedule.
• Resource tracking: You’ll need to keep track of the performance of your team. Use timesheets, workload charts and other resource management tools to track the work of your team members.

Most project managers use resource management software to help them as they move from one phase of the resource management process to the next.

Benefits of Resource Management

Resource management tools and techniques help organizations establish a resource management process or framework that can bring numerous benefits such as:

• Accurately defining the project resource requirements greatly facilitates the budgeting process and helps avoid unexpected costs, delays and other issues during the project execution
• Effective resource management helps maximize resource utilization rate and resource efficiency which have a direct impact on the profitability of a business in industries like construction and manufacturing
• Resources can be strategically allocated to finish projects in time when they’re behind schedule
• Resource planning allows organizations to ensure they’re well-equipped for future challenges, such as meeting estimated customer demand or implementing long-term projects and programs

Resource Plan Template

Now that we’ve learned about the different resource management phases and the techniques you can use, you’re ready to get started with resource management. This free resource management plan template is a good tool for beginners. It allows you to list your resources and keep track of their availability and costs.

However, our resource plan template must be manually updated and shared with the team. That’s time-consuming, which is why most project managers use resource planning software to help streamline the process.

Resource Management Techniques

Project managers implement the following resource management techniques to forecast , plan, allocate, level and optimize resources during the execution of a project.

Resource Forecasting

Project managers must do their best to estimate what resources are needed for a project and how those resource requirements fit with the organization’s current plans. To do this, you must define your project scope to identify all project tasks and their required resources.

Resource Capacity Planning

The resource capacity of an organization refers to the maximum amount of work it can accomplish with its current available resources over a period. Resource capacity planning is the process of ensuring resource capacity is sufficient to execute a project.

Resource Loading

A resource allocation technique that consists of determining the maximum number of work hours employees can be allocated and ensuring that 100% of their time is utilized throughout a project.

Resource Leveling

Resource leveling is the process of re-assigning work to a project team to solve overallocation or scheduling issues. By thoroughly understanding what your team members can offer, you can assign tasks based on their abilities to maximize resource efficiency.

Resource Utilization Tracking

Careful resource planning is equally as important as resource tracking. Project managers need to keep track of resource utilization to spot any resources that aren’t being used efficiently. Then they can simply reallocate those resources or change the resource management plan.

Resource Smoothing

Resource smoothing simply consists of delaying non-critical tasks to complete a project on time with the available resources. This is done by using the slack or float on each of those tasks to delay them without affecting the critical path. By delaying non-critical tasks, you can move your resources to complete critical path tasks and circle back to the least important activities.

Free Resource Management Templates

We’ve created over 100 free project management templates for Word and Excel which help plan, schedule and track projects. Here are some that can help with the resource management process.

Resource Capacity Planning Template

This free resource capacity planning template helps you list your team member’s names, indicate their total available work hours and hourly pay rate, assign work to them and automatically calculate their labor costs and resource utilization rate.

This resource plan template for Excel helps you visualize employee work hours using a calendar-like timeline, which makes it ideal for allocating organizational resources across projects over time.

Timesheet Template

This timesheet template for Excel is a project time tracking tool that allows organizations to log the work hours team members spend working on tasks for payroll processing.

Resource Management Tips & Best Practices

Here are some key tips and best practices that can help you avoid common resource planning mistakes.

Identify Resource Constraints Before Planning a Project

A resource constraint is any condition that limits the availability of resources for the completion of project tasks. For example, a piece of equipment might be scheduled for maintenance , or team members may be allocated for multiple projects, limiting their availability.

Assemble a Cross-Functional Team to Identify Resource Requirements

In most cases, these projects will require an organization-wide effort and an extensive use of resources. It’s important to assemble a cross-functional team and involve key stakeholders in the resource forecasting stage to obtain a holistic and accurate view of project resource requirements.

Consider the Level of Effort of Your Project Beyond Project Tasks

In project management, the level of effort of a project refers to all the supporting activities that are needed to complete project tasks, such as transporting resources from a warehouse to the job site or training employees.

How ProjectManager Helps With Resource Management

Resource management was developed to manage the resources in your project, which requires visibility into resource availability, workload and more. ProjectManager is project management software that gives you real-time data to make more insightful decisions when managing resources.

Plan Resources With Interactive Gantt Charts

Resources and costs can be scheduled with tasks on our Gantt chart project view . Once you set a baseline, you can also consult the planned versus actual progress of your overall project to get a heads-up if there’s a problem with resources. The progress bar tells you the progress being made on a specific task according to the planned effort. If you’re not meeting your baseline, reallocate your resources to stay on track.

Manage Workload and Keep Teams Productive

Your team is your most valuable resource. You can set up your team’s availability, workdays, holidays and PTO regardless of where they work. Once they start working, you don’t want to burn them out or leave them idle. Our color-coded workload page lets you see at a glance whether your team members are overallocated or under-allocated. A balanced workload leads to a more productive and happy team—and happier teams are more productive.

Track Your Resources With Real-Time Dashboards and Reports

You’ve planned your resource management, but as you execute the project, you have to monitor those resources. If you don’t keep an eye on how you’re using resources, you risk going over budget or missing deadlines. Our real-time project dashboard automatically collects live data and displays it in colorful graphs that chart six project metrics. In one click, you can generate reports that go deeper into the workload, time, costs and much more. All reports can be filtered and shared with stakeholders as you see fit.

Our software helps you plan, manage and report on project resources. You can allocate and track resource costs, see your team’s availability to make assignments and monitor everything with dashboards that act as instant status reports. Get everything you need to manage resources all in one place.

Related Resource Management Content

• Best Resource Management Software Rankings
• The Ultimate Guide to Resource Planning
• Resource Scheduling in Project Management
• What Is Resource Allocation? Resource Allocation Tips
• What Is Resource Loading & Why Does It Matter
• 5 Must-Have Resource Management Tools

When you’re managing resources on a project, there are a lot of balls to keep in the air, and that process can get complicated and confusing. However, with the right online tool, you’re able to plan, monitor and report on your resources with great control and accuracy. ProjectManager is online project management software that gives you the tools you need to steer your project to successful completion. Try it for yourself.

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• General & Introductory Industrial Engineering
• Industrial Engineering / Project Management

Project Management Case Studies, 5th Edition

ISBN: 978-1-119-62323-6

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Harold Kerzner

THE #1 PROJECT MANAGEMENT CASE STUDIES BOOK NOW FEATURING NEW CASES FROM DISNEY, THE OLYMPICS, AIRBUS, BOEING, AND MORE

After on-the-job experience, case studies are the most important part of every project manager's training. This Fifth Edition of Project Management Case Studies features more than one hundred case studies that detail projects at high-profile companies around the world. These cases offer you a unique opportunity to experience, first-hand, project management in action within a variety of contexts and up against some of the most challenging conditions any project manager will likely face. New to this edition are case studies focusing on agile and scrum methodologies.

• Contains 100-plus case studies from companies that illustrate both successful and not-so-successful project management
• Represents an array of industries, including medical and pharmaceutical, aerospace, entertainment, sports, manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, and more
• Features 18 new case studies, including high-profile cases from Disney, the Olympics, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus 380
• Follows and supports preparation for the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® Certification Exam

Experienced PMs, project managers in training, and students alike will find this book to be an indispensable resource whether used as a standalone or combined with the bestselling Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling, 12th Edition.

PMI, CAPM, PMBOK, PMP and Project Management Professional are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

HAROLD KERZNER, P H D, is Senior Executive Director for Project Management at the International Institute for Learning, Inc. (IIL), a global learning solutions company offering professional training and consulting services worldwide. Dr. Kerzner's profound effect on the project management industry inspired IIL to establish, in coordination with the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Kerzner International Project Manager of the Year Award, which is presented to a distinguished PMP ® credential holder or global equivalent each year.

Includes access to one free online PMP ® Mock Exam from Wiley Efficient Learning—see inside for details.

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Project Management Case Studies and Lessons Learned

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Project managers who lead globally dispersed teams face unique challenges in managing project stakeholders, scope, knowledge sharing, schedules, resources, and above all team execution in a global business environment. Finding timely solutions to challenging events becomes more difficult in a global project environment. This book presents more than

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 | 56  pages, case studies in stakeholder management, chapter 2 | 20  pages, case studies in scope management, chapter 3 | 26  pages, case studies in knowledge management, chapter 4 | 16  pages, case studies in schedule management, chapter 5 | 32  pages, case studies in resource management, chapter 6 | 48  pages, case studies in team management.

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