A leading landscape architecture organization wanted to build its internal project management capability and increase foundational PM knowledge across the team. The leadership recognized that a structured approach was essential to deliver complex projects efficiently and align initiatives with organizational goals.
We partnered with the organization to assess its current capabilities, develop a project management plan, and implement a tailored PM/PPM framework that would support consistent delivery and portfolio oversight.
Client: Leading landscape architecture organization
Scope: Capability assessment, PM plan development, and tailored PM/PPM framework implementation
Focus Areas: Capability development, framework design, portfolio governance, and sustainable project management practices
Results: Established a customized PM methodology, improved governance, and strengthened internal project management capability
The organization needed to formalize its approach to project management without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. As a small but dynamic team, it required practical processes that enhanced clarity and accountability while remaining lightweight enough to sustain. Leadership wanted to increase project visibility, improve prioritization, and ensure consistent oversight of its growing portfolio of initiatives.
Key challenges included:
Limited project management structure and governance
Inconsistent processes and prioritization across initiatives
Need for scalable, practical frameworks suitable for a small team
Requirement to build internal capability for long-term sustainability
We approached this challenge with a simple guiding principle: sustainability through practicality. Effective project management capability must fit the organization’s environment, culture, and pace. With this in mind, we designed a three-tiered approach focused on building capability while enabling immediate improvements.
Organizational Assessment: We evaluated current project management capabilities and existing knowledge assets, gathering input from individuals across the organization to identify gaps and opportunities.
PM Capability Development Plan: We designed a tailored plan to address both organizational and individual learning needs, aligning skill-building with strategic goals.
Implementation and Process Design: We implemented a fit-for-purpose PM and PPM framework that included project intake, evaluation, and onboarding processes. This framework also introduced a simplified scoring and prioritization model—yielding higher ROI than traditional weighted ranking approaches.
Key actions included:
Conducted a full assessment of organizational and individual PM capabilities
Designed a right-sized PM capability development roadmap
Implemented a customized framework for project intake, evaluation, and prioritization
Established clear governance and oversight mechanisms
Ensured practical adoption through coaching and process integration
Through this engagement, the organization gained structure and confidence in how it managed and prioritized its projects. The new framework increased visibility across initiatives, improved decision-making, and established a foundation for continuous improvement in project management practices. It now benefits from a scalable, sustainable approach to delivering its strategic goals.
Key results included:
Formalized project governance and portfolio oversight
Improved alignment between projects and organizational strategy
Increased efficiency and focus across the small but impactful team
Enhanced project prioritization and decision-making
Sustainable PM capability embedded within the organization
By focusing on practical implementation and internal empowerment, we helped the organization establish a project management culture that supports its mission and scales with its future growth.
