Why we need APEX-4

Why We Need APEX-4 Project Expert Formula™

Key actions to put in place for a successful project, right now.

The Problem With Success

The things that make or break your idea or project need to be simpler and easier to apply. Statistics show success rates aren’t where they should be. But it’s the human element we cannot not ignore. We need to get better at being highly successful.

The Reality on the Ground

After decades of new frameworks and rising professionalization, project success rates have barely moved.

The human factor

CEOs face severe stress and even hospital stays
Senior directors’ careers derailed by failing projects
Good people overworked and underappreciated on unachievable aims

When delivery works, the opposite happens, projects feel exciting, careers progress and relationships improve.

The statistics

Seventy years of professionalizing project management have moved success rates only marginally. Depending on the study, project success still sits between 0.5 percent and 35 percent.

Standish CHAOS Trends (2003–2021)

Project success flat despite a six-fold rise in PMI membership.

Status	2003	2009	2015	2021
Success %	34	32	29	31
Challenged %	51	44	52	50
Failure %	15	24	19	19

Source: Standish Group — CHAOS Reports 2003-2021

Oxford University Assessment (16 000+ Projects)

Only 8 % delivered on time and budget, and just 0.5 % achieved full impact benefits.

Metric	Percentage
Not on Budget	52.1 %
On Budget	47.9 %
On Time	8.5 %
With Expected Benefits	0.5 %

Source: Bent Flyvbjerg, Oxford University, Saïd Business School

HOW APEX-4 RESPONDS

Success Factor Design

Thousands of experts have shared their rules of thumb (heuristics) for success. This is Wisdom developed by people learning from their own experiences APEX-4 gives you the ones that matter the most.

Evidence Base

Draws from research looking at 16,000 projects.

Real-World

This isn’t another process. APEX-4 is universal by design. It works with everything.Pick up any method, framework or internal process and APEX-4 works with them. The Success Factors are things you should have a good reason for not doing.

From challenges to values

These key root cause challenges are converted a guiding value.

These values drive everything you see within APEX-4.

🎯 The Challenge

Few frameworks ask for people for their rules of thumb. That is, the secret hacks we all carry around with us. Few focus on this, and what research tells us are the key factors for success. This means we often miss practical and direct ways of working that people use all the time. Some call these ‘hacks’, others ‘secrets’.

💡 The APEX-4 Value

Focus on what we know works, from our own learned experience.

Identify and put the most important things front and centre.
Apply what research tells us are the most important things.
Help people to identify and develop their own success factors.

🎯 The Challenge

Many frameworks are trying to do a lot, they either miss what’s important or lose wisdom in the detail. You shouldn’t have to do a week course, just to understand how to take the first step. Or worse, not be told what the most important steps are.

💡 The APEX-4 Value

Be practical and usable, value simplicity over complexity.

Put the most important things front and centre.
Use plain language and provide clear, practical actions.
Be universal, works with any framework, process or method.

🎯 The Challenge

Too much focus on productivity and being busy. Focus is too often lost. It should be on results, on delivering value.

💡 The APEX-4 Value

Put outcomes front and centre.

Encourage people to work with the end in mind.
Help people get more value from their effort.
Help people get their outcomes (big things & changes) done, faster.

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