McLean & Company, a global HR research and advisory firm, has released a striking finding that should prompt HR leaders to take stock: only 19% of HR respondents rate their department as highly effective in project management. The research, published in the firm's new blueprint Get Started with HR Project Management, reveals a persistent and costly capability gap at the heart of HR's ability to deliver on strategic priorities.

As HR departments take on an ever-expanding portfolio of strategic and operational initiatives — from organizational redesign and employee listening programs to HR technology rollouts and AI implementations — the ability to manage projects with discipline and structure has never been more critical. Yet most HR teams lack the foundational project management practices needed to consistently deliver work on time, in scope, and with measurable impact.

The Root Causes of HR's Project Management Gap

According to McLean & Company, ineffective HR project management is not a matter of poor intent or insufficient effort. The real problem lies in missing fundamentals. The firm identifies five core gaps that undermine HR project outcomes: structured planning, effective scoping, proactive risk assessment, key player engagement, and consistent ongoing communication.

When these building blocks are absent, the consequences are predictable and damaging. HR projects become vulnerable to missed deadlines, scope creep, costly rework, and dissatisfied stakeholders. Over time, these failures erode HR's credibility as a strategic partner and limit its ability to deliver value to the broader organization — particularly at a moment when leadership expectations of HR have never been higher.

The firm's research makes clear that project management is no longer a discretionary capability for HR teams. As the scope of HR's work continues to expand, the ability to plan and execute with rigor is what separates high-performing HR departments from those perpetually playing catch-up.

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A Practical Three-Step Framework to Close the Gap

To help HR leaders address these deficiencies, McLean & Company's new blueprint provides a practical three-step process supported by tools and ready-to-use templates. The framework guides HR teams through the full project lifecycle — from initial setup and scoping through planning, execution, and formal closure — with a deliberate focus on capturing lessons learned and demonstrating tangible business value at every stage.

The blueprint's structured approach helps HR teams clarify project scope from the outset, identify and engage the right stakeholders early, manage risk proactively, maintain communication throughout execution, and close projects in a way that cements credibility and informs future work. By applying these fundamentals consistently, HR leaders can improve workload management, strengthen key player trust, and deliver stronger, more visible outcomes for both employees and the organization.

The release of this blueprint reflects a broader trend McLean & Company has been tracking: as HR's mandate grows to encompass AI implementation, workforce transformation, and culture strategy, the operational infrastructure behind HR must grow with it. Without sound project management foundations, even the most ambitious HR strategies risk stalling before they deliver results.