Strategy … and Projects?
| by Jeannette Cabanis-Brewin
As project management evolves from tactical execution to enterprise-level portfolio governance, it becomes the primary engine for turning high-level business strategy into measurable results.
This blog was updated August 2026.
Over the years, we’ve come to value the results of our Center for Business Practices action research events, the Strategy & Projects Summit and Project Management Benchmarking Forums.
At these events, project management leaders from major organizations have met and exchanged advice, best practices, challenges, and solutions. They’ve forged working relationships with the CBP and with their peers that have helped them to positively impact the project management culture in their own organizations. With this blog, we’re expanding these face-to-face events to a global discussion network.
For years, we’ve watched as project management has expanded in influence and clout. We’ve followed with excitement the upward trajectory of project management within organizations—and, we hope, offered research tools to lead the way. From a tactical, single-project focus to the IT project office... to the enterprise Center of Excellence, and on to the EPMO… from the project to the project portfolio… from project excellence to strategy execution…
Today, when management gurus and CEOs discuss execution, they are talking project and program management: governance, portfolio selection and balancing, performance measurement, resource capacity and competence, and the IT infrastructure that makes interdisciplinary management of “strategic initiatives” (those things we’ve always called projects) possible.
It’s an exciting time for project professionals. Best practices are only now being worked out for the deployment of project management at the strategic level. We’re constantly identifying new practices and approaches, and look forward to sharing them with you and hearing your feedback. Sign up below to receive a heads-up when new content is posted here; or come back and visit often.
We’re looking forward to the conversation.
Onward and upward!
FAQs
How has project management evolved from a tactical role to a strategic discipline?
Project management has expanded from managing individual, isolated projects to establishing Enterprise Project Management Offices (EPMOs). Today, it encompasses portfolio selection, resource governance, and continuous strategic alignment at the executive level.
Why are projects the primary vehicle for executing corporate strategy?
Strategic plans require concrete initiatives to produce real business outcomes. Projects and programs provide the structured framework, resource allocation, and performance tracking needed to turn strategic goals into actionable execution.
What is the role of an Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO)?
An EPMO operates at the organizational level to align project portfolios directly with business strategy. It establishes standardized governance, optimizes cross-functional resources, and ensures all active initiatives contribute directly to high-level strategic goals.