The 4PM Podcast
Transforming 4PM through: Integration to Deliver Value!
The 4PM Podcast is the newest platform in the UrukPM Outreach Trio.
The outreach trio includes the Applied Project Management YouTube Channel, the Applied Project Management Blog Site, and the 4PM Podcast. We will use these three platforms in an integrated way to provide maximum flexibility and benefits to our community.
In these podcast episodes, we will discuss various topics related to 4PM. In this context, 4PM refers to project, program, product, and portfolio management.
Our topics include various educational content such as case studies, books, practical tips, the latest trends, the pioneering Uruk Platform, and future interviews with respected project management experts and thought leaders.
Do you have topics or questions that you would like us to discuss? Please share!
The 4PM Podcast
Transforming Project Management: A View Into the Future
In this insightful episode of the 4PM Podcast, host Mounir Ajam shares an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into his upcoming trilogy of books that aim to revolutionize how organizations approach project management.
Drawing from decades of hands-on experience, Mounir explains why traditional project management practices often fall short—and how organizations can shift from chaos to clarity. This episode explores the core concepts of the three interconnected books:
- Book 1: Vision Realized – A call to action for executive leaders and boards to elevate project management into a strategic, business-integrated function.
- Book 2: Successful Transformation – A practical, step-by-step guide for transformation leaders and Chief Project Officers building sustainable project systems.
- Book 3: Transforming Project Management Compendium – A future resource designed for practitioners, offering deep dives into tools, techniques, and success enablers.
Through a powerful real-world scenario, Mounir illustrates how this trilogy can help organizations align strategy with execution, boost delivery success, and restore confidence in project outcomes.
Whether you're a CEO, a transformation leader, or a project professional, this episode offers a roadmap for lasting impact—one grounded in clarity, structure, and strategic value.
Resources Mentioned:
- Learn more at: www.urukpm.com/transforming-project-management
- Read Vision Realized: www.urukpm.com/books/vision-realized
- Connect with Mounir on LinkedIn & join the Transforming Project Management group for ongoing insights.
🎧 Tune in now and discover how to future-proof your project delivery—from vision to results.
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Welcome to the 4PM podcast, where ideas take shape and strategies find purpose. I am Mounir Ajam, founder and CEO of Uruk Project Management, and I have a deep-seated passion for project management and community development, growing on decades of global experience across diverse industries and roles. I am here to guide you through the transformative power of the 4PMs project program, product and portfolio management and our focus on business integrated project management. Let's explore how integration unlocks unparalleled value for you and your organization. Good day and welcome back to the 4 pm podcast. I am Munir Ajam, your host, and, as always, I'm excited to be with you here today. If you know me or my work, you know I have spent a lifetime exploring how organizations deliver projects. More importantly, how can they do it better to ensure consistent success? Today's topic is part of the theme of my long career in project management. I will take you behind the scene of a trilogy of books that I'm working on. These three books together chart a path for real, practical transformation in project management. The books are not about theory or abstract models. My career is centered around applying project management in the real world, emphasizing business integrated project management and generating value At the organizational level. My interest is bridging vision to achievement At the project or program level. My work also guides project team to predetermine success and create shareholders and stakeholders value. I believe in and advocate the value of project management in supporting strategy formulation and leading strategy execution.
Speaker 1:Originally, I thought I was writing one book. However, as I started authoring my content, something became very clear the people involved in change executives, transformation teams and project practitioners come with different backgrounds and have diverse needs. They have different responsibilities, strengths, weaknesses and blind spots. As a result, what started as one book turned into three, each focused on a part of the system. Each is authored with a specific audience in mind. However, all are part of the same journey helping organizations turn their vision into real achievement. In summary, in today's episode, I'll walk you through why the trilogy exists, what each book covers and how they come together in real-world transformation.
Speaker 1:Let's dive in. Let me begin with a why. Why three books instead of one? I quickly learned that executives, transformation leaders and project managers don't just play different roles. They think differently and focus on different things. Project managers and team might be interested in practical details, methods, concepts, tools, tips and tricks to help them communicate better, plan effectively, engage stakeholders, identify risks and clear issues. On the other hand, executives focus on results, achievements and success. The route might not be relevant as long as teams deliver value. So I pivoted.
Speaker 1:Book one is called Vision Realized. It's written for the executive suite and board of directors. It is for the organizational leadership entrusted with setting the strategy and delivering value to shareholders. Book two is successful transformation. This one's for the transformation management teams and the executives sponsoring the transformation. It is for the leaders who make things happen. And book three is the transforming project management compendium. That one is for project professionals, project managers, pmo teams and the people doing the day-to-day project delivery. Each book tackles a specific layer of the transformation puzzle, but together they form a complete system, from vision to outcomes. Let's take a closer look at what's inside each book.
Speaker 1:Book one, vision Realize. This one speaks directly to CEOs, executive teams and board members. It starts with an uncomfortable truth Project failure is far too common. Although the most common answers are symptoms, there are many reasons for failure. We believe the root cause is that project management is not treated as a core organizational function. In many organizations, project management is disconnected from business, fragmented and affected by the silos. Some PMOs exist with no apparent authority or mandate. Different teams use different methods and approaches. There is no unifying system or guidance In this book.
Speaker 1:I don't sugarcoat it. In this book I don't sugarcoat it I explore the reason why projects fail, pmos underperform and certification have not led to improved success. I directly address the confusion and even chaos before offering a solution leading to clarity of purpose. The current state of practice does not meet expectations or prepare organizations for a better future. Hence the need for change, the trigger for transformation. After making the case for change, I offer a vision and a peek into the future of work in project management. We present a proposal to embed project management into strategic governance. Proposal to embed project management into strategic governance to elevate it to a core organizational function.
Speaker 1:A function like the rest of the organizational business units, aligns with the proper governance. A project management function with centralized governance. A project management division to lead the entire portfolio and its projects and programs. A project management division led by a chief project officer CPO, who would be a central member of the executive team and organizational leadership. A CPO who is part of strategy formulation and leads strategy execution. If senior leadership doesn't take real ownership of project execution, transformation will always stall and project performance will continue to underperform. By the way, this book was published in March 2025. You can find more information here wwweuropmcom.
Speaker 1:Books, vision, real life. You can find more information here Book 2. Successful Transformation. This book picks up where Book 1 leaves off. Once the executive vision is clear, how do you build the project management function? That's where the transformation team comes in. This book is a hands-on guide for the team and their leader, the chief project officer. This book uses program management and an extended program approach as the transformation engine. Most of the book is written as a guide, simulating the program from the vision outlined in book one, going through the stages and steps one by one. We offer guidance on building the project management division. We present the methods and processes to establish a sustainable and effective organizational project management system. We also touch on the people aspect and the system to support building organizational competence, leadership capacity and maturity to deliver success.
Speaker 1:After the initial draft for this book, I decided to collaborate with a co-author to significantly enhance the model and simulation. We will announce the collaboration shortly. We should be ready to publish before the end of summer Book three Transforming Project Management Compendium. This one is the ultimate toolkit for project practitioners. It will include practical guidance on various project management topics, such as cost schedule, risk governance, communication change and project success. This will be a future project and possibly in collaboration with other project management thought leaders.
Speaker 1:So how do these books come together in the real world? Let me paint a picture. Imagine a mid-sized organization. Let's call it XYZ Corporation. They've got ambition and strategy, but execution is a mess. Projects are inconsistent, stakeholders are frustrated. Leadership is a mess. Projects are inconsistent, stakeholders are frustrated, leadership is losing faith.
Speaker 1:Here's how the trilogy can help. The executive team reads vision realized and sees themselves in it Disconnected project management practices, lack of ownership, inconsistent delivery. They get it, so they act. They decide to elevate project management to a core function and appoint a chief project officer to lead the transformation as a core member of the executive committee. Next, the CPO establishes the transformation team. The team can use the simulation covered in successful transformation as a practical guide, covered in Successful Transformation as a practical guide. They roll out a full transformation program, setting up governance boards, developing the framework, building the project management system and tailoring methods. They also establish the people system with coaching, mentoring, career paths and competence development. They engage stakeholders, manage resistance and start changing the culture. Meanwhile, the PMO and project managers and teams dive into the transforming project management compendium for continual professional development and lifelong learning and, little by little, things begin to shift. Projects succeed, outcomes improve, people feel more confident, more equipped. Trust is rebuilt. That's the journey from fragmentation to structured strategic execution, chaos to clarity. In addition to the above, organizations have other resources and books available to them. They might also start their own knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Speaker 1:All right, my friends, let us wrap up this episode of the 4 pm podcast. We talked about why the trilogy exists. We walk through vision, realized, successful transformation and transforming project management compendium. Finally, we explored how these books support transformation from vision to execution, to results. I genuinely believe that when organizations align strategy with delivery, they don't just get more done, they get the right things done. If you want to learn more, check out my articles on LinkedIn. Join the Transforming Project Management group on LinkedIn. Also, visit wwwurikpmcom slash transformingprojectmanagement slash page. Finally, if you're curious about how these books and our work can support your team, check the services and learning and development pages on our website. I'm Munir Ajam signing off. Until next time. Keep your vision clear, your execution focused and your value visible. Take care, stay purposeful and stay well.