MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Project Management Institute join forces to improve success in national defense projects
Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading authority for project professionals, has entered a two-year research partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL), a premier national research and development center supporting the U.S. Department of Defense by advancing technologies in support of National Security. Under the terms of this partnership, PMI will collaborate with MIT LL’s Project Management Office (PMO) to research how advanced project and program practices can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of complex, high-stakes research initiatives.
Known for developing breakthrough technologies across government-funded programs, MIT LL manages a portfolio of highly intricate projects spanning multiple domains, from missile defense to quantum communication systems. With complexity as a defining feature of its project environment, MIT LL is committed to applying world-class project and program management practices—not as an end, but to accelerate innovation, increase efficiency, and strengthen project success to ensure mission-critical outcomes for national defense and security. With more than 50 years of experience in helping project professionals deliver maximum value, PMI is uniquely positioned to research ways MIT LL can best adopt the most advanced practices in the field.
"This collaboration reflects a practical way to advance project management in some of the world’s most challenging and complex environments," said Pierre Le Manh, PMP, President & CEO of PMI. "By advancing research at the frontiers of innovation, we aim to equip organizations everywhere with the knowledge and practices needed to turn complexity into opportunity.”
This research partnership comes just months after PMI published Maximize Project Success, the largest research project on project success undertaken by PMI to date. The report shares a refreshed definition of project success, sets a benchmark for project success rates globally, and evaluates which factors are predictive of success.
"At Lincoln Laboratory, innovation thrives on disciplined execution and collaborative inquiry. Our partnership with the Project Management Institute allows us to play a key role in advancing the science of project success," said Melissa Choi, Director of MIT LL. "Helping to extend research performed by PMI will help uncover the practices, behaviors, and conditions that lead to high-impact outcomes. This is an opportunity to strengthen internal project execution, and contribute to a broader understanding that benefits organizations everywhere."
Jacob Williams, Ph.D., PMP, head of the Program Management Office at MIT LL and program leader for this research initiative, further emphasized the focus on actionable insights, said, "Our collaboration will push into the 'why' and more specific guidance on 'how' these findings should be applied to deliver projects that advance technology for national security and beyond."
The research will culminate with jointly published findings, covering five areas:
- Project Definition and Project Success Definition: Defining projects and programs within MIT LL's unique research context and complexity, and how to establish meaningful criteria for measuring their success across their portfolio.
- Project and Program Management Approach: Examining how different project management methodologies across a continuum of practices can be effectively applied and governed across a range of complex research programs.
- Modern Project Management Skills and Competencies: Identifying the critical skills, competencies, and learning strategies needed to strengthen project management effectiveness in a complex research-driven environment.
- PMO Evolution: Investigating how the PMO can evolve its role to support a broader range of programs and projects, balancing standardization with flexibility and enhancing knowledge-sharing.
- Organizational Design and Operating Model: Evaluating how organizational structures, team configurations, and business systems can be optimized to better align project execution with strategic goals in an evolving research landscape.
"This collaboration will benefit MIT LL and the project management profession at large, and can be extrapolated to many different industry sectors facing similar challenges," said Edivandro Carlos Conforto, PhD, Director of Thought Leadership at PMI and PMI Program Leader for this research initiative. "By generating insights from one of the most advanced and complex research environments, this work will help inform the future of project delivery in sectors and organizations where innovation and efficient execution are critical."
About MIT Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center chartered to apply advanced technology to problems of national security. Since its founding in 1951, the Laboratory has developed technology that has transformed the activities and missions of the defense, scientific, and industry communities. Its research and development activities focus on long-term technology development as well as rapid system prototyping and demonstration.
About PMI
PMI is the leading authority in project management, dedicated to guiding the way to project success. Since 1969, PMI has shone a light on the power of project management and the people behind the projects. With a global community, gold-standard professional certifications, and career-long learning opportunities, PMI empowers current and aspiring project professionals, as well as organizations, with knowledge and resources to lead effectively and create an impact in the communities they serve. Join PMI in elevating our world – one project at a time. Connect with us at www.pmi.org, linkedin.com/company/projectmanagementinstitute, on Instagram @pmi_org, and on TikTok @PMInstitute.
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