PMI unveils a data-backed blueprint to close the strategy–execution gap and de-risk digital transformation

Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading authority on project management, has released new global research that exposes a critical fault line in enterprise transformation: the widening gap between strategy and execution—and how it is putting digital and business reinvention at risk.

The report, Step Up: Redefining the Path to Project Success with M.O.R.E., based on insights from 5,800 respondents worldwide, arrives at a moment when organisations—especially in India—are under relentless pressure to reinvent through GenAI, digital public infrastructure, and sustainability-led change.

A parallel global survey of senior executives reveals the scale of the problem: 35% cite the disconnect between planning and execution as one of the biggest barriers to reinvention. In other words, ambition is high—but delivery is breaking down.

The hard truth: only 50% of projects succeed

PMI’s research shows that just half of today’s projects meet the modern definition of success—delivering value that justifies the time, cost, and effort invested, as perceived by all stakeholders.

13% of projects fail outright

37% partially deliver expected outcomes

Only 50% truly succeed

For organisations betting their future on transformation, this is not a rounding error—it is a structural risk.

“As Indian industries push aggressive transformation agendas driven by GenAI, digital infrastructure, and sustainability mandates, a coin-toss probability of success is simply unacceptable,” said Amit Goyal, Managing Director, South Asia, PMI. “A 50% success rate puts capital, talent, and momentum at serious risk. The M.O.R.E. framework offers a proven way to reverse this trend and unlock the real value of transformation.”

M.O.R.E.: A measurable path to project success

PMI’s research introduces M.O.R.E.—a four-element approach that directly addresses why projects derail and what separates high-performing teams from the rest.

The impact is striking.

Using PMI’s Net Project Success Score (NPSS)—an industry-standard metric calculated as successful projects minus outright failures—the study finds:

NPSS = 27 when none of the M.O.R.E. elements are applied

NPSS = 94 when all four elements are applied consistently

In effect, project success more than triples when organisations adopt the M.O.R.E. approach holistically. Yet, the research also reveals a major adoption gap: very few project professionals currently apply all four elements together.

PMI is now embedding M.O.R.E. across its global ecosystem—spanning learning programs, professional standards, tools, and community initiatives—to help organisations operationalise these insights at scale. This includes:

New learning journeys aligned to value-driven delivery

Updated definitions of project success focused on outcomes, not outputs

Expanded recognition for teams that exemplify the M.O.R.E. mindset

“For Indian enterprises, reinvention is no longer a one-time initiative—it is continuous,” added Goyal. “Project success has moved from an operational concern to a boardroom priority. Closing the strategy–execution gap requires a fundamental shift in how we lead, measure, and deliver value. M.O.R.E. provides leaders with a practical, data-backed blueprint to do exactly that.”