Stop Funding Failure: The 45% Overrun Standard and How to Break It
Large projects are designed to fail. With a 45% average budget overrun, your PMO is likely a cost center disguised as a delivery engine.
The statistics for large-scale IT and capital projects remain pathetic. 45% of projects exceed their budget. Only 31% meet their original scope and timeline. Globally, we waste $1 million every 20 seconds on project mismanagement.
Why is this accepted? Because most PMOs have become "status reporting" shops rather than delivery accelerators. They track the fire instead of preventing it. In 2026, a PMO that doesn't save at least 5x its own cost in avoided overruns is a luxury you cannot afford.
ROI-focused project management requires radical transparency and the courage to kill projects that are no longer viable. Stop throwing good money after bad. If a project isn't delivering measurable value by its midpoint, pivot or axe it. The 45% overrun is a choice made by passive leadership. Choose differently.
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