3/23/2017 ReasonsWhyProjectsFail

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ReasonsWhyProjectsFail
~ByTomCarlos

Inaperfectworldeveryprojectwouldbeontimeandwithin
budget.Butreality(especiallytheprovenstatistics)tellsavery
dierentstory.Itsnotuncommonforprojectstofail.Evenifthe
budgetandschedulearemet,onemustaskdidtheprojectdeliver
theresultsandqualityweexpected?Trueprojectsuccessmustbe
evaluatedonallthreecomponents.Otherwise,aprojectcouldbe
consideredafailure.

Haveyoueverseenasituationwhereprojectsbegintoshowsignsof
disorganisation,appearoutofcontrol,andhaveasenseofdoomand
failure?Haveyouwitnessedse ingswhereeveryoneworksinasilo
andnooneseemstoknowwhattheotherteammemberisdoing?
WhataboutteammemberswholivebythecreedIlldomypart(asI
seet)andafterthat,itstheirproblem.Evenworseiswhenteam
membersresorttongerpointing.Situationssimilartothese
scenariospointtoasignthatreadsdanger.Andifyoureadthene
printundertheworddangeritreads,yourprojectneedstobe
broughtundercontrolorelseitcouldfail.

Whenprojectsbegintoshowsignsofstressandfailure,everyonelookstotheprojectmanagerforanswers.Itmayseem
unfairthattheburdenofdoomfallsuponasingleindividual.Butthisisthereasonwhyyouchosetomanageprojectsfor
aliving!Youvebeentrainedtorecogniseanddealwiththesetypesofsituations.

Therearemanyreasonswhyprojects(bothsimpleandcomplex)fail;thenumberofreasonscanbeinnite.However,if
weapplythe80/20rulethemostcommonreasonsforfailurecanbefoundinthefollowinglist:

Poorlymanaged Undenedobjectivesandgoals Lackofmanagementcommitment

Lackofasolidprojectplan Lackofuserinput Lackoforganisationalsupport

Centralisedproactivemanagement Enterprisemanagementofbudget Providesuniversaltemplatesand

initiativestocombatprojectrisk resources documentation

Poorlydenedrolesand Inadequateorvaguerequirements Stakeholderconict

responsibilities

Teamweaknesses Unrealistictimeframesandtasks Competingpriorities

Poorcommunication Insucientresources(fundingand Businesspolitics

personnel)

Overrunsofscheduleandcost Estimatesforcostandscheduleare Lackofprioritisationandproject

erroneous portfoliomanagement

Scopecreep Nochangecontrolprocess Meetingenduserexpectations

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3/23/2017 ReasonsWhyProjectsFail

Ignoringprojectwarningsigns Inadequatetestingprocesses Baddecisions

Evenwiththebestofintentionsorsolidplans,projectcangoawryiftheyarenotmanagedproperly.Alltoooften,
mishapscanoccur(andusuallydo).Thisiswhentheprojectmanagermustrecogniseawarningsignandtakeaction.If
youunderstandthedierencebetweensymptomsandproblemsandcanspotwarningsignsofprojectfailure,your
trainingwillhelpyoutakestepstorighttheshipbeforeitkeelsover.Yes,itstheprojectmanagersresponsibilityto
correctthelistingnooneelse.Inadditiontoapplyingtheprocessesandprinciplestaughtinprojectmanagementclass,
youcanalsouseyourpersonalworkskillsofcommunication,management,leadership,conictresolution,and
diplomacytotakecorrectiveaction.

Duringthecourseofmanagingaproject,theprojectmanagermustmonitoractivities(anddistractions)frommany
sourcesanddirections.Complacencycaneasilysetin.Whenthishappens,theprocessofmonitoringbreaksdown.This
iswhytheprojectmanagermustremainincontrolofaprojectandbeawareofanyactivitywhichpresentsariskof
projectfailure.Yes,thisiswhyyouarepaidthebigbucks.

TomCarloshasover20yearsofcumulativeexperienceinbusiness,technical,andtrainingenvironments.HeisaCertiedProject
ManagementProfessional(PMP)andmemberoftheSacramentoValleyPMIChapter.Forotherarticlesonsimilarsubject,youcan
visitThomasCarlosConsultingorcontacthimattom@carlosconsulting.com(mailto:tom@carlosconsulting.com)

ProjectSmart.Allrightsreserved~www.projectsmart.co.uk

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