---
title: TOP Thinking on (2)
description: For more than three decades, we have been challenging the orthodox thinking about strategy and project execution in our TOP Thinking blog. (2)
---
[](https://www.totallyoptimizedprojects.com)
# TOP Thinking on
#### [Why 'Effective Implementation' Is Critical To Project Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/why-effective-implementation-is-critical-to-project-success)
Projects delivered to specification can still fail at the implementation stage. Only effective implementation ensures project success
#### [The True Roles Of Time And Cost On Projects And Project Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-true-roles-of-time-and-cost-on-projects-and-project-success)
Project time and cost management are still critical but are not measures of project success
#### [The Absurdity Of The Triple Constraint Measures Of Project Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-absurdity-of-the-triple-constraint-measures-of-project-success)
The orthodox measures of project success are, when you really think about it, absurd. They measure inputs not outputs but what you want is outputs.
#### [Forget Stakeholder Management, Focus On The Project Owners](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/forget-stakeholder-management-focus-on-the-project-owners)
Stakeholder management ignores the fact that the business areas impact, management and sponsor are the owners and investors
#### [Time To Rein In Strategic Sourcing?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/time-to-rein-in-strategic-sourcing)
Has strategic sourcing overstepped its powers and needs to be reined in? What should it be doing?
#### [Three Rules For Strategic Software Selection](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/three-rules-for-strategic-software-selection)
The three strategic software selection rules prevent unnecessary expenditure and failed results from new software. But too often they are ignored.
#### [The absurdity Of The Triple Constraint Project Success Measures](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-absurdity-of-the-triple-constraint-project-success-measures)
When you think about it, measuring project success using the Triple Constraint or Iron Triangle is absurd. They measure completely the wrong dimensions
#### [The Triple Constraint Measures Of Project Success Are Dangerous](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-triple-constraint-measures-of-project-success-are-dangerous)
The standard Triple Constraint or Iron Triangle measures of project success actually cause expensive to the business problems and should be replaced
#### [What Are Your Measures Of Project Success?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/what-are-your-measures-of-project-success)
How you measure project success determines if your projects deliver successfully in business terms
#### [Project Prioritization Process - An Indicator of Management's Quality?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/project-prioritization-process-an-indicator-of-managements-quality)
Your project prioritization process determines your future competitiveness and results. Excellent organizations demand an excellent prioritization process.
#### [How To Define True Project Success For Your Projects 2](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-define-true-project-success-for-your-projects-2)
Project success requires you to know all of the activities required, your path dependencies and your benefits' up-to-date value. Do you know this for your project?
#### [How To Define True Project Success For Your Projects 1](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-define-true-project-success-for-your-projects-1)
The TOP Value Equation equips you to define and deliver true project success that maximizes the business value realized
#### [The True Cost Of Project Failure](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-true-cost-of-project-failure)
Lack of project success incurs massive costs - both visible and invisible. No organization can afford such failure.
#### [Four Principal Areas Of Control To Ensure Project Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/four-principal-areas-of-control-to-ensure-project-success)
You cannot track project success through orthodox project reporting, there are four critical areas that need to be tracked and measured to ensure the success of your project
#### [The 7 Prerequisites To Delivering Successful Projects](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-7-prerequisites-to-delivering-successful-projects)
Here are 7 prerequisites that you need to have in place for successful projects. You should check each project today against the checklist provided.
#### [How Do You Measure Your Project's Strategic Contribution?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-do-you-measure-your-projects-strategic-contribution)
Every project must measure its strategic contribution as the first element of project prioritization.
#### [The 10 Measures Of Project Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-10-measures-of-project-success)
The measures of project success abound, but there are 10 key measures of success that matter to the business.
#### [Project Completion Is Not 'Project Success'](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/project-completion-is-not-project-success)
Project completion does not equal project success. Project success is a different measure that orthodox methodologies do not support. A new approach is needed.
#### [Is Your Organization Really Targeting Project Success?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/is-your-organization-really-targeting-project-success)
Is your organization targeting project success or trying 'not to fail'? Winning or not losing are diametrically different approaches.
#### [Is Your Project Already In Trouble?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/is-your-project-already-in-trouble)
The lack of clear, specific 'desired business outcomes' statements measurable with a true/false question driving the project dooms projects to fail in part or in full.
#### [Potential Threats To Portfolio Management Offices - 3 Outcomes](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/potential-threats-to-portfolio-management-offices-3-outcomes)
The Portfolio Management Office must ensure the project delivery methods deliver the business' desired outcomes, rather than just "finishing" a project.
#### [Potential Threats To Portfolio Management Offices - 2 Resources](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/potential-threats-to-portfolio-management-offices-2-resource)
You'll run out of quality resources before you run out of investment funds. The Project Portfolio Management office must manage resources to maximise success
#### [Potential Threats To Portfolio Management Offices - 1 Investment Management Processes](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/potential-threats-to-portfolio-management-offices-1-investment-management-processes)
When project/program investment management processes are disconnected from the project portfolio management processes, up to 80% of the project portfolio can be strategically irrelevant!
#### [The Project Portfolio Mix - "Smart Idea" Or Hoax?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-portfolio-mix-hoax)
The notion of a 'balanced portfolio mix' is a hoax. Your project portfolio needs to demonstrably deliver your strategy. It really is that simple.
#### [What Is Project Portfolio Management's Primary Role?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/what-is-portfolio-managements-primary-role)
The orthodox view of portfolio management as a super-set of projects and programs is wrong rather it is a subset of strategy execution.
#### [Addressing the Myki “risks” and other misadventures](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/addressing-the-myki-risks-and-other-misadventures)
The fact Victoria still doesn't know how well Myki is performing is a perfect representation of the project’s failure.
#### [Just What Is The Portfolio Management Office Accountable For?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/just-what-is-the-portfolio-management-office-accountable-for)
The role of the portfolio management office may be known, but what exactly is it accountable for? The answer may surprise you
#### [When Do You Need A Project Portfolio Management Office?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/when-do-you-need-a-portfolio-management-office)
To understand project portfolio management you need to understand when you need a Portfolio Office
#### [We Need To Talk About 'Benefits'](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/we-need-to-talk-about-benefits)
The obstacles to the successful implementation of benefits management come in all shapes and sizes, but boil down to three root causes.
#### [How The Rush 'To Do' Compromises Project Delivery Quality](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-the-rush-to-do-compromises-project-delivery-quality)
Speed is good when it is accompanied by quality. Quality of thought. Quality of preparation. Quality of planning and execution.
#### [How To Justify The Unjustifiable And Hard To Justify Projects](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-justify-the-unjustifiable-and-hard-to-justify-projects)
Technical projects are often hard to justify in business and financial terms. This is a problem the TOP Value Equation resolves simply.
#### [How To Identify Your 'Desired Business Outcomes'](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-identify-your-desired-business-outcomes)
Your project's desired business outcomes can be your primary measure of success only when you know how to define them
#### [How To Improve Project Results Through Increased Project Control](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-improve-project-results-through-increased-project-control)
With this 'black hole' you can lose control of your project and what you're trying to achieve. Yet the TOP Value Equation can fill this hole.
#### [How To Get Benefits Management Adopted In Your Organization](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-get-benefits-management-adopted-in-your-organization)
To successfully implement benefits management you have to tackle three dimensions in the correct order, otherwise you'll fail.
#### [Retaining Unnecessary Complexity](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/retaining-unnecessary-complexity)
Invisible waste driver - people don't see the complexity retained that will cost them for years. Designing, developing and delivering something that should no longer exist is a complete waste.
#### [You're Paying An Expensive, Unnecessary 'Tax'](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/youre-paying-an-expensive-unnecessary-tax)
It's time to axe the tax. Imagine that there is a tax of between 25% and 100%. This tax is totally voluntary yet 95% of firms are, unknowingly, paying it.
#### [Project Prioritization Is Simple](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/project-prioritization-simple)
Many organizations struggle with how to prioritize their projects - how to objectively select the highest priority projects that are strategically relevant, worthwhile, doable and which are required to be done now. Yet project prioritisation is really quite simple.
#### [How To Fail As A Sponsor](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/fail-sponsor)
My first project for which I was the Project Sponsor was a failure. I was sponsoring a project to replace a closed system with a new flexible, open system.
#### [Simple, Practical, Project Governance](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/simple-practical-accessible-project-governance)
Research has shown that more projects fail due to poor project governance than poor project management.
#### [The Dangers Of "Unknown Unknowns"](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/dangers-unknown-unknowns)
What you don't know can be high risk and high cost to you personally and to your organization.
[**](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/page/1) [**](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/page/3)
### TOPics
- [Benefits Management (29)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/benefits-management)
- [Business Case (24)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/business-case)
- [Business Simplification (5)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/business-simplification)
- [Capability Development (38)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/capability-development)
- [Capital Investment (24)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/capital-investment)
- [Change Management (17)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/change-management)
- [Consultants (1)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/consultants)
- [Costs and Waste (16)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/costs-and-waste)
- [Engineered Thinking/Ideas/Innovation (8)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/engineered-thinking-ideas-innovation)
- [Fifteen Critical Insights (15)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/fifteen-critical-insights)
- [Idea / Project Initiation (3)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/idea-project-initiation)
- [Mental Models, Beliefs and Myths (18)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/mental-models-beliefs-and-myths)
- [Outcomes Thinking (10)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/outcomes-thinking)
- [Path Dependency (10)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/path-dependency)
- [Prioritization (13)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/prioritization)
- [Process Management (11)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/process-management)
- [Productivity Improvement (7)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/productivity-improvement)
- [Program / Project delivery (40)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/program-project-delivery)
- [Project Controls (52)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/project-controls)
- [Project Governance (90)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/project-governance)
- [Project Management (4)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/project-management)
- [Project Success (46)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/project-success)
- [Project Validation (2)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/project-validation)
- [Risk Management (5)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/risk-management)
- [Scope Management (5)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/scope-management)
- [Standards/Frameworks/Methods (14)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/standards-frameworks-methods)
- [Strategic Project Portfolio Management (16)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/strategic-project-portfolio-management)
- [Strategy Execution (39)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/strategy-execution)
- [The TOP Four Lenses (1)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/the-top-four-lenses)
- [TOP compared to orthodox approaches (7)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/top-compared-to-orthodox-approaches)
- [Value Delivery (83)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/value-delivery)
- [Value Equation (60)](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/topic/value-equation)
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