Chapter News

Three things struck me while reading this 48-page playbook: how well it is structured, how practical its tips are, and how conveniently it maps the four practices it describes to the PMBOK ones. This textbook is written in Hemingway-style prose: coherent, clear, concise. Like many novels, it took a few years of diligent teamwork to publish.

Essentially, the playbook tempts readers to expand their professional vision and, in turn, redefine project success. Take a step beyond the “golden triangle” towards global impact. While still remembering good old discipline, reassess the project often.

Compelling is the first graph of the playbook. It claims that once you apply any of the four M.O.R.E. elements, your project success increases by a factor of 2,5. Incrementally adding the remaining three practices pushes the project up by 12-13% each. 

It may mean that the playbook isn’t step-by-step PM guidance. It is a trial to reconcile the solid PMBOK foundation with new project circumstances, claimed to shift your vision from step one.

Additionally, the playbook shares insightful statistics across 40 practices, split into four elements. Each element is described in terms of PMBOK focus areas and performance domains, accompanied by case studies, and closed by “try this” tips.

My favorite tip is “Keep a simple benefits register that tracks not only intended outcomes, but also unexpected value emerging during delivery.” The unexpected positive happens to many of us, but have we tracked it as lessons learned and watched our approach change over time?

Finally, “A playbook to Apply M.O.R.E.” is a compact read with an aftertaste of mindset changes. Intended for any PM professional who was educated on the classical PMBOK, and now stays puzzled by the new normality.

And like other meaningful novels, its plot is worth sharing.