In The Focused Organization Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez shows you how fewer, more effectively elected and managed projects are the key to strategic and long-term success. Using his own research and work experience he explains how and why those organizations that focus on just a few key initiatives can perform significantly better than unfocused organizations, not only financially but also in achieving their strategic objectives and motivating their staff.

The author introduces a new way of looking at a company through two very different and often conflicting dimensions: running-the-business and changing-the-business. What you add to one dimension you have to subtract from the other one. Finding the right balance between these two dimensions represents one of the major challenges to successful strategy execution.

Becoming a focused organization involves a radical change in the way companies are organized and the way they select and manage projects - the creation of a new culture. The Focused Organization discusses the characteristics that comprise a focused organization. It describes key areas where a focused organization builds its levels of maturity; provides examples of focused organizations that outperform the rest; and explains in practical steps how all enterprises can become focused.

The book finishes with a unique and inspiring case study that transports us to the early days of the current business world. Through the main character, Benny White, we learn how a business was conducted and how management evolved over decades with the introduction of business theories, including project management.

Contents: Foreword, Greg Balestrero; Benny's tale; Introduction; Part I Why Most Companies Only Partially Achieve Their Strategies: Organizational evolution and the challenges of strategy execution; Evidence of the neglect of project management; Why so many strategic initiatives have failed. Part II The Benefits and Methods of Becoming Focused; How companies can FOCUS; A six-pillar framework for becoming a focused organization; How to implement a focused organization; Case study: the evolution of Spare Parts Benny, Inc.; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez is an expert in strategy execution and project management. He currently works for BNP Paribas Fortis as Head of Transversal Portfolio Management, which deals with the prioritization, the selection and the execution of all the large strategic projects. He is former Head of Post Merger Integration at Fortis Bank, where he was involved in the merger with ABN AMBRO. Previously, he worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for more than ten years, where he was the global lead practitioner for the Project and Portfolio Management practice. He is a visiting professor in Solvay and Nyenrode Business Schools where he teaches strategy execution and program management to MBA students. Antonio is a founder member of the PMI European Corporate Council and an active speaker and presenter on strategy execution and project portfolio management.

Reviews: 'These days, for most companies the strategic objective of their CEOs and senior executives is to achieve sustainable growth in the market place and do it cost effectively. In this book, Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez advocates a policy of being singularly focused on the projects that will make the biggest contribution to the organization's vision, strategy and purpose. He examines the conflict between "run-the-business" (operations) and "change-the-business" (projects), the optimum balance of resources between the two, and how best to move forward. The key is in adopting "FOCUSED" as an acronym for: F-Fewer projects, rather than many; O-Organized staff; C-Competitive mind set; U-Urgency; S-Strategic alignment; E-Excellence; and D-Discipline. Adoption of this paradigm shift is not a guarantee of success, but it will certainly reduce the chances of failure.'
R. Max Wideman, P.Eng., FICE, FEIC, FCSCE, FPMI, MCMI

'The world is awash with business ideas and tools. But what really matters to business leaders is making things happen, execution. That is what they are measured on and what really turns them on. Based on research and extensive experience, The Focused Organization provides new, compelling and highly practical insights into the reality of execution.'
Stuart Crainer, editor, Business Strategy Review, co-creator Thinkers50

'This book fills a long-standing need in the management literature by presenting, as it does, sound and proven concepts, principles, and practices for translating strategies into results. Nieto-Rodriguez clearly describes the reasons behind the widespread corporate failure to successfully execute strategies, and presents a practical approach for companies and agencies to become his vision of The Focused Organization.'
Russell D. Archibald, Honorary Fellow APM/IPMA, PMI Fellow, PMP and author of Managing High-Technology Programs and Project

In his new book, The Focused Organization, Antonio Nietro-Rodriguez brilliantly describes some significant problems in many organizations today and offers a simple yet profound solution - increased focus on those few projects that are most important. He explains how this can be accomplished, using clear examples and practical steps. This is a powerful book that will help many executives and businesses. Outstanding!'
David Pells, Managing Editor, Project Management World

’10 out of 10…a wealth of hints and tips on implementing the program to create a focused organisation and, enticingly, a ‘fast-track approach that provides quantifiable results in less than 12 months’. And, at almost 25p a page, it’s worth it - simply for the fact that, whilst most managers believe that they have the ability to create a focused organisation, this book has the tool to enable that intuition to become a reality.’
British Computer Society (Bcs.org) July 2012

‘The Focused Organization would be of great benefit to senior and middle management as the theories that Antonio has put forward could be turned into essential management tools. I hope that this will be the first of several adventures by Antonio into the world of corporate management, and that he continues his endeavours to restore the respect that the profession of project management is rightly due.’
Project Magazine, January 2013

Watch The Focused Organization's 'Benny White' case study video

Extracts from this title are available to view:

Full contents list

About the author

Introduction

Foreword

Author article: Evidence of the Neglect of Project Management by Senior Executives - Advances in Project Management Series by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez (Belgium and Spain)