BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards
Author: Harold Kerzner, PhD
Publisher: Wiley
List Price: $81.95
Format: Softcover, 448 pages
Publication Date: 2019, 4th Ed. 2023
ISBN: 978-1-951486-00-6
Reviewer: Sunil Kumar Suvvari
Review Date: Feb 2026
Introduction
Project management today is about much more than delivering a project on time and within budget. Organizations want project managers to show business value, make informed decisions, and use data to improve project outcomes. In Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards, Harold Kerzner explains how the right metrics and dashboards can help achieve these goals. This is the second edition and the fourth edition has many more revisions of the evolved metrics.
The book takes a practical approach to performance measurement. Instead of treating metrics as numbers to report, the author shows how they can help project managers reduce uncertainty, identify problems early, and make better decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
Overview of Book’s Structure
The book is divided into eight chapters, each building on the previous one. It starts by explaining how project management has evolved and why traditional measures of success are no longer enough. The early chapters introduce the basics of project metrics, stakeholder expectations, and why measuring the right things is more important than measuring everything.
The next few chapters focus on metrics, KPIs, and value-based measurement. Kerzner explains the difference between a metric and a KPI, how to select meaningful measures, and why projects should be evaluated based on the value they create, not just schedule and cost.
The book then moves into dashboards and reporting. It explains how to design dashboards that communicate useful information to executives and stakeholders. Real examples from different organizations make these concepts easier to understand.
The final chapter brings everything together by explaining measurement-driven project management. It shows how project goals can be converted into meaningful information that helps teams make better decisions and improve project performance.
Highlights
One of the biggest strengths of this book is its focus on measuring what really matters. The author explains that collecting more data does not always lead to better decisions. Instead, project managers should focus on information that helps reduce uncertainty and supports decision-making.
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How to cite this work: Suvvari, S. K. (2026). Project Management Metrics, KPIs, and Dashboards, book review, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue VIII, August. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/pmwj167-Aug2026-Suvvari-PM-Metrics-KPIs-Dashboards-book-review.pdf
About the Reviewer
Sunil Kumar Suvvari
Texas, USA
Sunil Kumar Suvvari is a technology and enterprise delivery leader with over 15 years of experience driving Agile transformation, digital governance, and inclusive product strategy across telecommunications and financial services organizations. His work focuses on integrating accessibility, responsible AI practices, and empirical Agile delivery into enterprise-scale engineering ecosystems.
As a Principal Agile Delivery Lead, Sunil has led large modernization initiatives that embed accessibility governance directly into sprint planning, DevOps automation, and enterprise SDLC standards. His approach demonstrates how inclusive design, when operationalized effectively, enhances product quality, reduces delivery risk, and creates sustainable competitive advantage.
Sunil has authored and co-authored research-based articles published in international journals and has contributed to books focused on Project Management and Agile methodologies. He actively serves the professional community as a reviewer for publications and conferences affiliated with Springer, Elsevier, SAGE, ACM, and IEEE.
He has also served as a judge for global innovation and technology awards, including business intelligence and accessibility-focused competitions. A frequent keynote speaker at PMI, IEEE, ACM, and other professional forums, Sunil shares practical insights on governance-driven Agile leadership and inclusive digital transformation.
He currently serves as Vice President, Professional Development for the PMI Dallas Chapter. An international mentor supporting professionals across 26 countries, Sunil advocates universal design as both a professional responsibility and a strategic business advantage. He can be contacted at suvvarisunilkumar@ieee.org.
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