SERIES ARTICLE
By Dr. Prasad Kodukula
Illinois, USA
About the Series
Organizational transformation has become a strategic necessity in an era marked by rapid technological shifts, global competition, and evolving stakeholder expectations. To help leaders navigate this complexity with clarity and discipline, this six-part series introduces a practical framework—captured by the acronym P-L-E-A-S-E—with each letter representing one of the six foundational secrets behind successful transformation. These are the secrets I’ve uncovered over the past 35 years of my career working with more than 40 Fortune 100 companies; teaching at elite academic institutions like the University of Chicago; and lecturing on project management, leadership, and innovation in nearly 50 countries. Rather than unveiling all the secrets at once, I will reveal one at a time in each article—not necessarily in order of importance. Published every other month, these articles will examine the conceptual grounding, leadership implications, and practical applications of the secrets. Together, the series provides a structured and engaging journey toward understanding what truly enables organizations not only to change, but to transform with purpose and lasting impact.
Secret No. 1: Purpose
A woman enters a cancer research laboratory as a visitor. She notices a group of people in white lab coats focused on their microscopes. She gently taps the shoulder of one of them. As he looks up and turns toward her, she politely says, “Sir, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I’m curious. What’re you working on?” The man, looking somewhat annoyed, replies with a frown, “Don’t you see what I’m doing? I’m counting these stupid cultures.”
The woman thanks him and then approaches another man in the lab who is doing the same work as the first person and everyone else there, asking the same question: “What’re you working on?” The man enthusiastically responds, “Thank you, ma’am, for asking me. You see, I’m part of this team that’s working on finding a cure for cancer.” With a big smile, he wishes her a good day and then goes back to work.
What differentiates these two men? The answer in one word is Purpose. If you want to transform your organization for the better, a top secret to success is to build an army of cancer curers instead of culture counters.
Organizational transformation—it’s not a destination but an endless journey
Organizations must transform in one way or another to survive, let alone thrive, and adapt to change. As change occurs relentlessly, you have no choice but to evolve constantly. Transformation isn’t a destination; it’s an ongoing journey. Staying competitive means remaining in a continuous state of transformation.
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Editor’s note: Dr. Prasad Kodukula, PMP, PMI Fellow is the author of Organizational Project Portfolio Management: A Practitioner’s Guide (J. Ross Publishing 2014) and The Project Management AI Handbook: Leveraging Generative Tools in Waterfall and Agile Environments, with Gustavo Vinueza (J. Ross 2025). A global ambassador for project management, Dr. Kodukula has lectured in nearly 50 countries and worked with more than 40 Fortune 100 companies across all 11 S&P industrial sectors. Learn more in his author profile at the end of this article.
How to cite this work: Kodukula, P. S. (2026). Secrets to the Success of Organizational Transformation, series article 1, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue I, January. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pmwj160-Jan2025-Kodukula-Secrets-to-success-of-organizational-transformation-series-1-2.pdf
About the Author
Dr. Prasad S. Kodukula
Illinois, USA
Dr. Prasad S. Kodukula, PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, DASM, DASSM, BCES, is a USA Today best-selling author, PMI Fellow, thought leader, and entrepreneur with over 35 years of professional experience. A global ambassador for project management, Dr. Kodukula has lectured in nearly 50 countries and worked with more than 40 Fortune 100 companies across all 11 S&P industrial sectors. He serves as an Adjunct Industry Professor at Illinois Tech and teaches how to recover troubled projects for NASA and at the University of Chicago. As co-founder and CEO of Kodukula & Associates, Inc. and NeoChloris, Inc., he leads the firms in project management and renewable energy, respectively. Recognized three times by the Project Management Institute as “Best of the Best in Project Management,” he has received multiple accolades, including the Illinois Tech Alumni Association Professional Achievement Award and honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the states of Arizona, Kansas, and Illinois for his outstanding leadership in education and training, environmental improvement, and innovation. An accomplished author, Dr. Kodukula has co-authored or contributed to 12 books and over 40 articles and holds four U.S patents. He can be contacted at https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasadkodukula/.
