BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: Powered by Projects: Leading Your Organization in the Transformation Age
Author: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
Publisher: HBR Press
List Price: $32.00
Format: Hardcover
Publication Date: January 2026
ISBN: 979-8-89279-060-4
Reviewer: Allison Bowker
Review Date: February 2026
Introduction
Powered by Projects by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez introduces a new concept of Project-Driven Organizations (PDOs) in response to the rapid changes occurring in all industries due to AI and other technological advances. The transition from traditional operationally focused structures to PDOs encompasses changes to both traditional company structures and leadership styles to focus dedicated resources on high impact projects. This concept expands on the agile project management methodologies to meet current and future industry’s needs.
Overview of Book’s Structure
The book is separated into three sections: the organizational structure of a PDO, the leadership responsibilities to create and maintain a PDO and finally insights into PDO daily operations to execute successful, high impact projects. Each section focuses on 2 – 3 core tenants of a PDO and how traditional operations companies can adapt these tenants to drive improvements and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing global market.
Nieto-Rodriguez opens each chapter with real world examples of companies that have begun implementing the PDO tenant that is the chapter’s focus within their organizations. He explains the fundamental concept for the tenant before giving simple, actionable advice on best practices and common pitfalls to avoid. Nieto-Rodriguez provides examples of both successful and unsuccessful project executions to further prove the value of changing to a project focused company culture. Each chapter finishes with a conclusion of the key benefits of the tenant featured in the chapter.
Highlights
This book was written to be accessible for people in all industries, at different levels of their careers and all technical backgrounds. Nieto-Rodriquez utilizes simple, easy to understand language to explain project management concepts to the senior leaders who are crucial to implementing PDOs at their companies without requiring extensive knowledge of the agile project management methodologies that the PDO concept was built on. To further ensure that the important concepts of this book are clear and understood to all readers, Nieto-Rodriquez utilized frequent and simple diagrams to visualize the concepts and examples presented in the book.
More…
To read entire Book Review, click here
How to cite this work: Bowker, A. (2025). Powered by Projects: Leading Your Organization in the Transformation Age, book review, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue IV, April. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pmwj163-Apr2026-Bowker-Powered-By-Projects-book-review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Allison Bowker
Texas, USA
Allison Bowker is a certified Project Management Professional and Professional Engineer who has worked in the North American freight rail, residential construction material and heavy-duty truck manufacturing and data center construction industries.
Editor’s note: This book review was the result of a partnership between the PM World Journal and the PMI Dallas Chapter. Authors and publishers provide books to the PM World Journal Editor; books are delivered to the PMI Dallas Chapter where they are offered free to PMI members who agree to provide a review within 45 days; book reviews are published in the PM World Journal and PM World Library. Reviewers can normally claim PDU’s for PMP recertification upon publication of their book reviews.
PM professionals can also author a review of a PM-related book independently purchased or received from authors. Those book reviews can also be published in the PMWJ, with authors then able to claim PDUs or CEUs for PM recertifications. If you would like us to publish a book review or are an author or publisher of a project management-related book, and would like the book reviewed, please contact editor@pmworldjournal.com.
