Where portfolio turns strategy into reality, how to deal with the increasing demand for agility?

These five portfolio principles have served their value in my past two decades in project portfolio management:

1. Start with the end in mind: be transparent about how initiatives contribute to strategic objectives and ensure the portfolio as a whole meets them.

2. Set for success: assure the ability to deliver, based on available resources, timing, technology, dependencies, etc.

3. Rank the stars: set clear priorities based on added value, with the order for resourcing and resolving any future issues.

4. Future funneling: commit to the short term, plan the mid term, and provide direction for the long term, leaving an increasing level of flexibility to respond over time.

5. Continuous feedback: use frequent, short-termed feedback loops to scrutinize progress, assumptions, help requests, and allow for corrective measures.

These portfolio principles ensure that strategy can be achieved through executing a prioritized and feasible portfolio that is resilient and adaptive to changing circumstances and needs.

These principles are built for action. Let’s connect — our experts at The Independables are ready for the challenge.

Meet the author Rens Nooyens