Being reactive rather than proactive results in constantly having to put out "fires".
Within the last decade, project management has developed into a management technique that is necessary for long term success of any company. The information learned throughout a project is treated as valued and productive knowledge. Imagine being able to calculate the time, money, and resources used to complete a company objective, then using that information for future planning. The information gained from project management can then be used to create more efficient use of resources, which will ultimately increase returns on investments.
What You May Be Facing
IT projects never seem to meet expectations, they frequently go over budget, and key objectives are unfulfilled. When it comes to projects, being reactive rather than proactive results in constantly having to put out "fires". If you ask a group of firefighters what their most important job is, do you know what they say? Firefighters will tell you that educating the public on fire prevention is by far the most important thing they do. If they spend time preventing fires, the risks associated with every fire is eliminated.
The same concept holds true for project management. Project managers need to help all stakeholders understand the importance of careful planning and the development and thorough project plans. Taking the time to do this has the same benefit as fire prevention. With a little time and the proven use of project management tools and techniques, you can eliminate risk that cause projects to deliver late, over budget, and outside of scope.