Organizations with more effective communication have more successful projects. Poor communication leads to one out of five projects being unsuccessful and $135 million being at risk for every $1 billion spent on a project. The document outlines strategies for improving communication, such as defining responsibilities, targeting the right messages to stakeholders, and creating formal communication plans for projects. It emphasizes positioning communication as a strategic function and getting feedback from outsiders to improve communication.

1. COMMUNICATION: THE
MESSAGE IS CLEAR

2. Organizations that communicate more
effectively have more successful projects.

3. One out of five projects is unsuccessful
due to ineffective communications.

4. $135 MM is the amount at risk for
every US $1B spent on a project.

5. “You need to internalize good
communication strategies as
part of the project culture.”

6. MAKE
THE CASE

7. “If you want to achieve anything,
you need to reach out to people... Tell
them what you’re doing, listen to
what they need and adjust your
goals as necessary.”

8. “Communication is one vehicle that makes
people see the benefit of what you have done.”

9. Communicating with stakeholders
increases project support despite
costly and disruptive engagements.

10. PLAN OF ACTION

11. Target efforts so the right people get
the right message in the right channel

12. Define communications responsibilities

13. Foster explicit understanding of the
project’s strategic benefits to all
stakeholders at every stage of the project

14. High performers create formal
communications plans for nearly
twice as many projects.

15. Early conversations unearth
unmet needs in a project plan.

16. Give the people what they want.

17. “Project managers can produce the best
project update in the world, but if they deliver
it in a 50-page report, busy executives can’t
be blamed for not paying attention”

18. Work with executives early to
define their communication
style, frequency and format.

19. When a project hits bumps in the
road, communication helps keep
customers on-course.

20. 5 WAYS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION

21. Position communication
as a strategic function.
1

22. Define the
target.
2

23. Make it a
group effort.
3

24. Mix
it up.
4

25. Get an outsider’s
opinion.
5

26. “A good communication process
helps you to be predictive. That’s
important, because if you are
always reactive it’s too late. The
project is already off the tracks.”

27. Presentation By Michael Kaplan.
Images by John Keatley.

28. Based on this Report.