A primer on project management

Purpose This article is a primer which aims to examine the application of project management principles in organizational strategic planning. The intended audience is students in health administration and novice leaders in health care. Design/methodology/approach A six‐phase project management algorithm is presented to serve as a framework for implementing various aspects of an organization's strategic plan, with a particular emphasis on accountability processes. Findings Leaders in healthcare can increase the effectiveness of their organization's strategic planning processes and improve accountability by incorporating basic project management principles during the implementation phase of strategic planning. Research limitations/implications This is a review article drawing on a well‐established literature in project management and strategic planning. Practical implications The processes associated with generating an organizational strategic plan are well addressed in the management literature. This article succinctly outlines the application of basic project management principles to the implementation of strategic plans and organizational success, focusing on accountability processes. Social implications Cost effectiveness of health organizations can be improved by implementing project management practices in strategic planning. Originality/value The article succinctly applies basic project management principles to the implementation of strategic plans and organizational success.