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Steve Everard / / 4 minutes of reading

Project Management
an ROI worth taking

In today’s tight capital environment, biotech companies are under pressure to achieve more with fewer resources. Funding is harder to secure, milestones are scrutinized, and delays can shrink runway or derail momentum entirely.

Too often, project and program management are viewed as overhead or sunk costs—usually due to poor implementation. But when done right, project management shifts fragmented execution into value-driven operations that reduce waste, enhance delivery, and drive market advantage.

The Business Case: Where the ROI Comes From

Biotech companies are being challenged to deliver faster, more efficiently, and with greater transparency. According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), companies with mature project management practices complete projects 29% faster.

Effective project management enables:

  • Governance that reduces risk and uncertainty
  • Transparent communication and stakeholder alignment
  • Better cost control and strategic execution
  • Faster delivery of quality outcomes

Whether applying Agile, traditional, or hybrid methods, the objective remains the same: deliver value quickly—while staying on time, within budget, and in compliance.

Companies that invest in formal project management processes, sponsor engagement, and internal capability-building see dramatically better results. PMI reports a 92% success rate for these companies—compared to just 32% for those without formal practices.

Finding the Perfect Fit

Whether you’re engaging your first project manager or have an established PMO, the goal is clear: deliver value early and often.

While certification (e.g., PMP, PMI-ACP) can be valuable, studies show experience and organizational maturity drive the greatest success. Key enablers include:

  • Benefits Realization Management (BRM)
  • Project Management Maturity (PMM)
  • Clear roles and methodologies

Surprisingly, only 53% of projects are managed by certified Project Managers.  While it is clear that certified Project Managers are not required, the training and education in best practices and methodologies can improve a project’s success rate.  Skipping formal methodologies increases the risk of delays by 15%, and failure rates rise from 12% to 16%.  While it may seem like searching for the diamond in the rough, companies should take their time to find the right project manager who has relevant industry experience and expertise in project management methodologies.

As operations scale, companies benefit from full-time PMs with domain expertise—whether in clinical trials, cybersecurity, or infrastructure. Grouping similar efforts under one program manager enhances:

  • Strategic alignment
  • Shared resource management
  • Faster issue resolution

Establishing a PMO early enables a scalable framework for cross-functional coordination, ongoing maturity, and measurable ROI.

Real World Snapshot – AstraZeneca’s Race to Market

The COVID-19 vaccine race tested every facet of operational agility. Out of 32 developed vaccines, just five had meaningful public health impact. AstraZeneca emerged as a leader, delivering 175 million doses to 130+ countries in under 18 months—compressing a typical 8–10 year timeline to less than two.

How? Through strategic project and program management.

Facing rapid acceleration, AstraZeneca identified major gaps across people, process, and systems. They recognized the need for:

  • Project managers with deep vaccine and government contract experience
  • A formal PMO aligned to scheduling, budgeting, and risk oversight
  • A scalable methodology guided by PMI’s PMBOK Guide

Tina Guina, hired for her vaccine development and federal contracting background, led the effort. Under her leadership, the PMO enabled parallel clinical trials, CMO coordination, and efficient contract transitions—all under intense regulatory and logistical pressure.

Colleen Dixon, Head of Biopharmaceutical Project Management, credited the success to early requirement gathering, process gap remediation, and selecting the right methodologies—investments that enabled high-speed execution.

Conclusion: A Strategic Investment, Not a Cost

Project management isn’t just process—it’s protection. It prevents missed deadlines, manages complexity, and supports scalable growth. While projects can succeed without a PM, complexity multiplies the risk.

Key takeaways:

  • Know your lead times and align planning methods accordingly
  • Avoid buzzwords—Agile does not mean “figure it out as we go”
  • Balance delivery—don’t aim for perfection up front or save everything for the end
  • Value experience—a PM with relevant project experience often outperforms one with just credentials

Ultimately, project management is more than a system—it’s a culture. One that lifts teams, removes roadblocks, and delivers measurable value. For companies navigating uncertainty, it’s a journey well worth taking.

References:

• AstraZeneca.com
• PMI COVID-19 Case Study
• PMI.org
• PMBOK® Guide, Seventh Edition
• The Pulse of the Profession 2023, PMI
• Plaky.com – Key Project Management Statistics
• ScienceDirect – How Manufacturing Won or Lost the COVID-19 Vaccine Race
• Wellingtone’s 2024 State of Project Management Report