A lot of project methodologies have been developed and yet we still see poor delivery. Could it be the methods, the project managers, or the organizational setup and maturity levels that are failing us? The causes are multi-layered.
One of the major contributors we can single out is that we have a lot of project management practitioners and professionals who know the science very well. Yes, the science. They are duly certified in the science of project management. They can scope, schedule, cost, and set up project controls. How is it that the puzzle pieces
are still not getting together?

There is a need for a holistic approach that will the pieces together. This can be done by
enhancing the technical project management skills and knowledge of the project managers and performing organizations with two critical competencies; strategic and business acumen as well as leadership. Just what are these then? Strategic and business acumen simply means having the capability to scan the industry, set up
realistic business aspirations, and develop a roadmap that will deliver the desired business outcomes and ultimately business benefits. A sizable number of organizations are striving to dene their strategy and to get their business
priorities right. What real impact will a qualified project manager have if they do not have the skill to link the projects with the strategic intent of the organization?

Strategic and business acumen simply means having the capability to scan the industry, set up realistic business aspirations, develop a roadmap that will deliver the desired business outcomes and ultimately business
bene ts. A sizable number of organisations are striving to dene their strategy and to get their business priorities right. What real impact will a qualified project manager have if they do not have the skill to link the projects with the strategic intent of the organisation? Leadership, on the other hand, is a very complex animal. Leadership is about the
ability to manage and get the most out of the human resources aligned with a project in the most effective and efficient ways. This subject tries to address the desired behaviours in the project management space. The complexity is brought about by the fact that we are trying to model personal behaviour, organisational behaviour and
industry behaviour. These skills and behaviours will be different for different managers, organisations, industries and geographical locations. This is probably the least understood and the most neglected aspect, and yet, a good chunk of the pie of competencies required in the art of project management So what is the art of project management? The art of Project management lies in the ability to relate initiatives to strategic intent, leading the project team through change and managing the traditional aspects of project management like scope and risk. For the puzzle pieces to fit where they should be, a project manager will require a skill set that goes beyond the scientific qualifications.