European businesses in chaos – Outdated ways of working jeopardize revenue and reputation, according to new report

An independent pan-European study, The Chaos Theory report, by research companies Cint and Loudhouse and endorsed by the UK Chapter of the Project Management Institute, reveals that inefficient collaboration and project management practices cost organizations 20 working days a year and put sensitive data at risk, jeopardizing businesses’ revenue and reputation. Organizations are struggling to adapt to the rapid evolution of technology, new working habits, and the increasingly global nature of business. The research was commissioned by Projectplace.

•  Inefficient ways of working cost businesses 20 working days a year.
• Two-thirds of project managers can access sensitive data in their organization, but only half can see who has read, changed or downloaded a shared document.
• Lack of communication is a major collaboration challenge for over a third of project managers.
• Email is still the main communication method amongst teams, but the number of emails received leaves one in three project managers feeling stressed.
• Three-quarters say that having access to better tools would result in more time saved, better control of costs, a stronger sense of team and lower stress levels.
• Only half of respondents say their organization’s IT department supports employees’ use of new technologies. 

The Chaos Theory research surveyed 1,240 people who manage projects across six European countries, drilling deep into the factors that contribute to inefficient collaboration and project management practices and their impact on productivity, individuals’ well-being and business success.

“Old habits kill productivity and are hard to get rid of,” says Tobias Andersson, Chief Operating Officer of Projectplace. “Project success requires a balance of elements, including building a motivated team, easy collaboration and getting things done on time and within budget. When balance is achieved, projects run like clockwork. But, it takes just one of those elements to slip, disrupting the balance and resulting in chaos. If the team misses a single email, the knock-on effect can be a delay in the project, a disgruntled customer, and even lost revenues.”

Time and money matter
The Chaos Theory research shows that ineffective ways of working cost a lot for businesses. Project managers waste an average of 2 hours and 45 minutes a week due to inefficient practices, equating to 20 working days a year in lost productivity.

Putting stretched budgets and timelines under the microscope, the findings reveal that one in five (19%) of all projects run late and 14% run over budget. Project managers admit that if they are working on eight or more projects, things spiral out of control, with one in three (32%) projects delayed and a quarter (26%) exceeding the agreed budget.

“In a bid to maximise productivity, organisations are placing huge pressure on project managers to deliver on complex business initiatives with smaller budgets and tighter timelines,” says Yohan Abrahams, president of the UK Chapter of the PMI. ”Inefficient business practices can result in poor productivity levels, as highlighted by the Chaos Theory study. This ultimately has a knock-on effect on the bottom line, as projects overrun.

“In order to address the new challenges posed by a complex environment, organisations need to equip project managers with new technologies that address their pain points and foster a collaborative working culture. More effective project management and collaboration practices support businesses’ competitiveness in the digital economy.”

Technology – help or hindrance?
Recognizing the need for more effective ways of working in the always-connected, mobile workplace, half (52%) of project managers have adopted new tools. They feel that tapping into better tools could result in more time saved (82%), better control of costs (69%), lower stress levels (81%), and a stronger sense of team (71%).

Yet only half (52%) say their organization’s IT department supports the use of new technologies. Security and integrity of sensitive data is a key concern. Two-thirds (64%) of project managers say they can access sensitive data in their organization; yet only half can easily see who has read, changed or downloaded a shared document (54%).

Collaboration chaos
The research highlights that dispersed teams working across different geographies and time zones struggle to work together effectively, with over a third (37%) of respondents citing a lack of communication as a major headache.

Email (76%) remains the top communication method. Limits on mailbox sizes (26%) and challenges of finding specific emails (38%) are some of people’s email pet hates. The number of emails received leaves one in three (35%) project managers feeling stressed.

Stressed and over-worked
The research also shows that project managers are feeling over-worked and under pressure. Almost two-thirds (63%) work on their days off or during weekends to keep on top of their to-do list. One in three (31%) admit to not being able to complete their work during working hours, and two-thirds (67%) respond to emails outside of working hours. Under pressure, around half (48%) of project managers feel that their personal life is often affected by work-related stress.

Tobias Andersson concludes: “The collaboration and project management chaos is harmful for businesses because it can damage their reputation and bottom line. Just imagine if sensitive customer data gets into the wrong hands due to ineffective working practices. Businesses have everything to gain by addressing the chaos, and technology plays a central role in this. By exploring new methods and tools, they can propel smarter, goal-driven collaboration.”

About the report
More than 200 project managers from each country including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands were surveyed in April and May 2014, across a broad spread of vertical markets. The research was conducted as part of a collaborative effort by Loudhouse, an independent research agency based in London, and Cint, a global online market research firm.

For more information:
Per Holmlund, PR Manager, Projectplace
+46 73 156 03 12, per.holmlund@projectplace.com