#94 Digital control for your project portfolio management
This episode was recorded in German.
#SHIFTHAPPENS, but where is your project portfolio taking you?
In times of constant change and growing complexity, a company's success doesn't hinge on good ideas alone. What matters most is the ability to put them into practice. That's exactly what strategy expert Christian Underwood discusses in the latest episode of "Hope Is Not a Strategy" with Dr. Jonas Steeger, founder of Nordantech, co-developer of the Falcon software and author of the #SHIFTHAPPENS study. The insight: transformation rarely fails because of the strategy, it fails in the execution.
Between ambition and reality: the gap in the project portfolio
Many companies formulate ambitious strategies and define large programs, then lose themselves in a multitude of projects that are neither clearly prioritized nor measurably tied to the strategic goals. The #SHIFTHAPPENS study makes it clear: there is a troubling gap between what executives consider necessary and what actually gets done. That gap isn't just an organizational issue, it's above all a strategic problem.
Project portfolio management as the key to execution power
Only deliberate project portfolio management makes it visible which initiatives really matter, where resources are tied up and which measures pay into the bigger picture. A well-designed project portfolio management doesn't just create transparency, it creates confidence in decisions. It helps executives reduce complexity, set clear priorities and manage impact systematically. This is exactly where modern tools like Falcon from Nordantech come in: not as a reporting instrument, but as a control center for transformation.
The PMO as an enabler, not as project police
Another topic in the conversation: the often underestimated role of the project management office (PMO). Instead of acting purely as a control body, the PMO should act as an enabler, as the interface between strategy and execution. In many companies, however, this role is either understaffed or anchored in the wrong place in the organization. The result: projects run in parallel, resources fizzle out and strategic focus is missing.
Strategy takes the courage to decide.
Project portfolio management also means making uncomfortable decisions: stopping projects, reallocating resources, creating focus. And that's precisely where the key to success lies. As Jonas Steeger puts it: "Transformation doesn't happen on its own. It takes leadership, clarity and consistency."
#SHIFTHAPPENS, but impact needs structure
This podcast episode offers valuable input for everyone who wants to think strategically and act effectively, from the C-level to strategy departments to project leads. It shows how to not just administer your project portfolio, but steer it deliberately to achieve real impact. 🎧 Listen now
SHOW NOTES