CMCS earns ISO certificate for procuring corrective project management measures

On a global scale, 24% of all projects either fail, are cancelled, or delivered but never used.

In this context, CMCS has asserted its position as a leading project portfolio management provider in the region by earning the ISO 10006:2003 certificate for achieving international quality standards in project management, which stipulate a set of corrective measures that help businesses maximize project success levels. This certificate marks a new milestone in CMCS' commitment to implement benchmark standards in project management, after the company was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 certificate for quality management system in June 2007.

A recent report by the Standish Group highlighted a marked decrease in 2009 project success rates, with 32% of all projects succeeding and delivered on time, on budget, and with the required features and functions. However, 44% of worldwide projects were challenged with completion schedules, over budget issues, and with less than the required features and functions. The remaining 24% represented failed projects that were cancelled prior to its completion or were delivered and never used. The report, which covers major industries such as engineering and construction, oil and gas, power and utilities, information technology, telecommunication, aviation, also shows that the 2009 results represent the highest failure rate in the past five years.

Aiming to reduce the number of failed projects, CMCS has stressed on the importance of implementing benchmark project management practices to help bolster the success rates of development projects currently being undertaken in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the company is set to showcase its project management solutions for the IT sector during its upcoming participation in Gitex 2009 in Dubai.

Bassam Samman, CEO and Founder, CMCS, said:

"With several companies increasingly looking to invest in new projects and meet their strategic goals, the trend of wasted funds coming from failed projects should be stopped. These failed projects have translated into huge financial losses, which can no longer be recovered and has robbed us of the opportunity to put the funds into other investment initiatives that could have benefited organisations. Corrective actions should immediately be taken to effectively tackle this situation, and major, well-established companies have an important role to play in this regard."

Failed projects can be attributed to many reasons including unclear project objectives, poor planning and execution, organisational and political issues, unqualified project delivery teams, stakeholder conflicts, incomplete risk analysis and treatment, ineffective quality assurance and lack of quality control.

"CMCS remains steadfast in its effort to introduce project management solutions and services to the region's growing number of companies and organisations. The implementation of a project management based system into a company's daily operations allows them to be at the top of their game and produce positive results," added Samman.

The new ISO certificate strengthens CMCS' top-quality project portfolio management measures like; a structured and organised way of handling the project; implementation of quality standards; improved project performance and consistency; reduction of time, effort and cost; project management skills development among staff; and the ability to communicate effectively with one language.

CMCS currently has operating offices in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt.