Evolutionary purpose as motivational driver in project and programme management

Abstract

In project or programme management, defining purpose is one of the key activities for success. On purpose, The project guide How to DO Projects: A Nordic Flavour to Managing Projects states: "Purpose gives a project direction, sets the boudaries of the project, and defines its success... Managing a project from the purpose perspective is about the adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit to dare to dream and turn dreams into reality...". This conception of purpose, is further developed by Frederic Laloux in the book Reinventing organizations. Here, in an organizational context, Laloux describes the power of a profound purpose, which is is valued over profit or competitive advantage. This profound purpose is described as an evolutionary purpose.

This article investigates how an evolutionary purpose can be used as a motivational driver in project and programme management - suggesting that a powerful purpose might be an even more important factor in achieving success with a project or programme, than on-point budgetting and scheduling. The article dives into exstrinsic versus instrinsic types of motivation and how these affect the behaviour of individuals and performance of teams. The article also gives pratical examples of how to listen to evolutionary purpose in project and programme management.

Background

A new managerial trend is occuring across industries, countries and cultures. A managerial paradigme which is changing the way we view and do organizations. The paradigme has first been descriped by belgian management consultant and author Frederic Laloux, as the perception of organization as living entities. This is a clear contrast to the more traditional view on organizations, as machines that needs to be steered an controlled. Forming the foundation of teal are three pillars; Self management, wholeness and evolutionary purpose. The evolutionary purpose