Shadowmatch Strategies: From 2018 Foundations to 2025 Realities

In 2018, Cranefield College Council Member, Prof Erik Schmikl, published “A Perspective on Strategies of Shadowmatch” in the PM World Journal. The paper explored how Shadowmatch, a behavioural alignment and workforce optimisation tool, could be used to enhance organisational performance through better alignment of people, roles, and strategic objectives.

Though published seven years ago, its insights remain valuable today, especially when viewed in the context of the rapid changes brought about by Industry 4.0, digitalisation, and the shift toward hybrid and remote workforces.


Prof Erik Schmikl – Cranefield Lecturer and Council Member

Why Shadowmatch Is Still Relevant

The paper’s central argument is that successful organisations depend not only on processes and technologies but also on aligning human behaviour with organisational needs. Shadowmatch focuses on identifying patterns of behaviour that drive performance and then matching them to roles, teams, and strategic outcomes.

This remains highly applicable in 2025, where:

  • Hybrid and virtual teams demand greater emphasis on behavioural alignment to ensure cohesion across geographies.
  • Industry 4.0 technologies (AI, automation, IoT) require adaptable and innovative employees who can thrive in complex digital value chains.
  • Programme and project managers face increasing pressure to deliver outputs while integrating people, processes, and technology for sustainable organisational transformation.

What Has Changed Since 2018

While Schmikl’s work offers a strong theoretical foundation, the world of work has changed dramatically:

  • AI and analytics now provide far deeper insights into workforce behaviour, enabling data-driven Shadowmatch applications.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote working, creating new behavioural norms and challenges that must be considered.
  • New performance frameworks (ESG, agile leadership, digital governance) require updated approaches to behavioural strategy.

These developments mean that Shadowmatch strategies must now be integrated with modern programme management, leadership, and Industry 4.0 governance practices.

Implementing Shadowmatch in 2025 Workplaces

In 2025, implementing Shadowmatch begins with mapping the behavioural patterns of high-performing teams in your organisation. By using digital assessment tools, employers can identify these success habits and benchmark them against individual employee profiles. Managers can then design targeted coaching, training, and mentoring interventions to close gaps and align behaviours with organisational goals.

When integrated with agile project management systems and continuous feedback loops, Shadowmatch provides a dynamic way to encourage collaboration, improve adaptability, and ensure teams are technically skilled and behaviourally aligned with the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

Linking Shadowmatch to Your Career Development

At Cranefield College, we emphasise that effective leadership in today’s organisations requires more than technical expertise. It requires a human-centred approach to programme management that aligns people, culture, and behaviour with organisational strategy.

Our Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Programme Management equip professionals with the knowledge to integrate behavioural alignment strategies into real-world projects, ensuring teams are not only managed but also empowered to thrive. By combining behavioural insights with structured programme management, you can lead high-performance teams ready for the challenges of Industry 4.0 and beyond.

Prof Schmikl’s paper is a reminder that while technologies evolve, the human element remains central to organisational success. The key is integrating behavioural strategies such as Shadowmatch with the demands of digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

Read the Original Paper

For those interested in diving deeper, we encourage you to read Prof Schmikl’s original Shadowmatch paper, published in the American PM World Journal: https://pmworldlibrary.net/article/a-perspective-on-strategies-of-shadowmatch-an-evolutionary-focus-within-organization-practice/