--- title: TOP Thinking on (4) description: For more than three decades, we have been challenging the orthodox thinking about strategy and project execution in our TOP Thinking blog. (4) --- [![Totally Optimized Projects](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TOPLogos/TOP%20Header%20logo2020.png?width=338&height=93&name=TOP%20Header%20logo2020.png "Totally Optimized Projects")](https://www.totallyoptimizedprojects.com) ![B0020 Blogs on the table 2 1170](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/hs-fs/hubfs/B0020%20Blogs%20on%20the%20table%202%201170.jpg?width=1170&name=B0020%20Blogs%20on%20the%20table%202%201170.jpg "B0020 Blogs on the table 2 1170") # TOP Thinking on #### [The Pre-Requisites To Strategic Growth](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-strategic-growth-challenge) Strategic growth is too often undermined by a lack of value delivery processes. Five in particular that can be easily put in place. #### [The Cost Of Capital Mis-Management](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/28-ways-to-lose-1-million-a-day) Here are "28 ways to lose $1 million a day”, lose value and destroy capital — check how many are in your organization #### [What Type Of 'Health Check' Do You Need?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/what-type-of-health-check-do-you-need) You need to ensure your project health check actually diagnoses your project's health. Most don't, they only conduct a superficial 'check-up' #### [The Need To Challenge Orthodox Project Thinking](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-to-challenge-orthodox-project-thinking) Few are "joining the dots" to understand that the orthodox way we approach and deliver projects is incomplete. Some of the "dots" are missing, some are not working, and some are actually destroying value. #### [Problems With Reengineering Approaches](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/problems-with-reengineering-approaches) Orthodox approaches to reengineering get lost in the detail and end up 'swatting flies while missing the elephants'. To avoid this, simplify. #### [The Importance Of Knowing Your Current State In Detail](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/importance-of-knowing-your-current-state) You must document your organization's current state in detail as everything you do today has to be either eliminated or accommodated in the future. #### [The need to challenge orthodoxy](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-to-challenge-orthodoxy) We need to challenge project delivery methods, standards and orthodoxy if we are to improve. We need to become the 'unreasonable man' #### [The Need To Put Benefits Center-Stage](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-to-put-benefits-center-stage) When you put benefits center-stage, the value of the benefits identified and 'banked' increase exponentially. It makes sense and is simple to do #### [Join The Revolution In Project Governance](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/join-the-revolution-in-project-governance) Project Governance has been neglected yet a governance team can destroy more value in five minutes than a project team can destroy in five weeks. Poorly understood, poorly supported and poorly executed it is not surprising that more projects fail due to poor project governance than poor project management. Yet while we invest millions in project management we invest next to nothing in project governance. #### [How To Get Executives To Accept Project Governance Training](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-get-executives-to-accept-project-governance-training) How you frame project governance training determines the level of acceptance by executives. Here is a simple and powerful approach #### [When Do You Call Out A Failing Project?](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/when-do-you-call-it-out-a-failing-project) When should you call out a failing project to ensure you don't waste time, effort and money? #### [Insight v Innovation](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/insight-v-innovation) Generating ideas is easy, but turning them into reality is innovation and requires attributes that most organizations don't have. #### [The Need To Be Cruel With Projects To Ensure Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-to-be-cruel-with-projects-to-ensure-success) Too many projects deliver compromises that adversely impact business operations for years. This is a waste and the opposite to success. #### [Too Simplistic Approach To Benefits Measurement Destroys Value](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/too-simplistic-approach-to-benefits-measurement-destroys-value) A simplistic approach to benefits measurement can actually destroy value. A simplified approach can ensure you realize the value. #### [Unseen Barriers To Project Improvement](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/unseen-barriers-to-project-improvement) Are you the subject of unseen barriers to improving your projects' performance and operations? You may be surprised at the answer. #### [How To Determine Your Desired Quality Dimensions](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/how-to-determine-your-desired-quality-dimensions) How to manage the trade-offs between different quality and cost dimensions on projects #### [The Dangers Of 'Sliders' As Quality Controls](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-dangers-of-sliders-as-quality-controls) The use of 'sliders' as quality controls can cause projects to be compromised at the outset - which is totally unnecessary and very wasteful. #### [The Speed Of Change](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-speed-of-change) The speed of change #### [Functional Architectures Are Not Processes](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/functional-architectures-are-processes) Functional, technical, and strategic "architectures" do not process charts. They do not necessarily help to improve the business. #### [Projects Don’t Deliver Outcomes Or Benefits Only Outputs | Myth 6](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/projects-dont-deliver-outcomes-or-benefits-only-outputs-myth-6) The idea of projects not being responsible for benefits is false and needs to be rejected. #### [Projects Exist To Solve Problems | Myth 5](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/projects-exist-to-solve-problems-myth-5) Projects do not just exist to solve problems, they are commissioned to deliver the business benefits and value. #### [You Can Only Have Two Out Of The Three Elements Of The Iron Triangle | Myth 4](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/you-can-only-have-two-out-of-three-elements-of-iron-triangle-myth-4) Managing the 'iron triangle' is not the key control, you need to manage scope and value to get the benefits you expect. #### [Project Methods Control The Results Delivered | Myth 3](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/project-methods-control-results-delivered-myth-3) Organizations try to improve their project delivery methods - this is the wrong approach, they need to improve their value delivery processes #### [Project Management And Other Standards Are 'Best Practice' | Myth 2](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/project-management-other-standards-are-best-practice-myth-2) Orthodox project methods and standards are not 'best practice' as they do not deal with the essential business and value elements. #### [Projects Are The Domain Of Project And Technical Experts | Myth 1](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/projects-are-domain-of-project-technical-experts-myth-1) Projects are not the domain of the project and technical managers, but of the business. #### [The Power Of Beliefs On Project Results](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-power-of-beliefs-on-project-results) Your organization's beliefs are often invisible but control the results sought and attained. To improve you need to make them visible #### [International Recognition For TOP By Gartner](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/international-recognition) TOP's international recognition by Gartner as a 2011 Cool Vendor #### [The Need For An End-To-End Project Delivery Process](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-for-an-end-to-end-project-delivery-process) Orthodox projects start too late and finish too early. To reap the value you need to an end-to-end project delivery process. #### [The Need For A TOP-To-Bottom Approach](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-need-for-a-top-to-bottom-approach) Successful projects require the active and knowledgeable involvement of everyone top to bottom, from the board to the frontline staff #### [Constraints On Project Performance Improvement](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/constraints-on-project-performance-improvement) The failure of any previous attempts to improve project performance should not constrain you from adopting a new approach. #### [To Improve Project Performance Optimize Don't Compromise](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/to-improve-project-performance-optimize-dont-compromise) There are eight steps that easily move your projects to optimization - more value for less cost. Avoid unnecessary compromise. #### [TOP Of The Morning To You!](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/top-of-the-morning-to-you) TOP of the morning to you! #### [The 8 Self Evident Value Delivery Truths #4 Don't Start What You Can't Finish](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-8-self-evident-value-delivery-truths-4) Assessing if you can deliver successful projects that are strategically relevant is the key to project success. #### [The 8 Self Evident Value Delivery Truths #3 Who Is Accountable For Value](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-8-self-evident-value-delivery-truths-3) Accountability for value delivery performance lies at the top of the organization. They need to uplift the organization's value delivery capability. #### [The 8 Self Evident Value Delivery Truths #2 Limiting Beliefs](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-8-self-evident-value-delivery-truths-2) Most projects miss, lose or destroy more value than they deliver due to ignoring the 8 self-evident truths that dispel the all too common myths. #### [The 8 Self-Evident Value Delivery Truths #1 Why We Need A New Approach](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-8-self-evident-value-delivery-truths-1) There are 8 self-evident truths that are too often ignored. This is destroying the business value delivered. You need to know the Truths. #### [TOP's Four Lens Perspective On Projects 5 - Four Lenses Are Required For Success](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-four-lens-approach-to-project-delivery-part-5) The focus of project delivery is cost, of business owners is value, and executive management is ROI, but they all must work together to succeed. #### [TOP's Four Lens Perspective On Projects 4 - Technical Control](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-four-lens-approach-to-project-delivery-part-4) Each of the project, business and executive roles, timeframes and measures of success on project delivery are different #### [TOP's Four Lens Perspective On Projects 3 - Program Control](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/the-four-lens-approach-to-project-delivery-part-3) TOP's four lens model changes management's perspectives and the processes involved in value and project delivery #### [TOP's Four Lens Perspective On Projects 2 - Business Value](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/tops-four-lens-perspective-to-value-delivery-1-strategy) Without the top two 'value delivery lenses' projects are doomed to fail. Find out more. [**](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/page/3) [**](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/page/5) ### 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) © TOTALLY OPTIMIZED PROJECTS 2026 [**](https://blog.totallyoptimizedprojects.com/top-thinking/page/4#)