No project can succeed if....

Unfortunately, the project that end as a partial or total failure outnumber those that are successful. And what is even sadder, is the fact that project failures are caused by the same problems again and again.

The Project Times website published the results of a survey in which 150 CEOs, CIOs, CMOs and project managers marked the most frequent causes of project failures. It turns out that it's nothing mysterious or complicated. These are mistakes you know well and often only shut your eyes to. Let's have a look at them.

Illustration

1. Failure to meet budget

If you exceed the budget by 10%, it's usually acceptable. However, 50% is unacceptable. There is no other way but to check project spending carefully, ideally on a weekly basis. Forecasting further budget spending is a matter of course too; only then can you intervene early and prevent budget overruns.

2. Failure to meet the schedule

Projects too often deviate from their original schedules. This problem has the same solution as budget overruns - strict control. You also have to catch scheduling failures in time so you can catch up, otherwise the whole project will develop in a different direction.

3. Poorly defined requirements

Project requirements define all the planning and forecasting. If you don't clearly define what the project is supposed to do at the beginning, you can expect many problems and extra unnecessary work.

4. Unprepared customers

If a customer claims they are ready for a project, that doesn't have to be true. Customers often lack a deeper understanding of the context of the project in connection to their company or department. They are unable to specify their true needs. The result is poorly defined requirements.

5. Missing resources for project implementation

These include mainly poorly formed teams lacking key knowledge, skills or experience. Lack of skills may, moreover, occur during the course of the project, which can be extremely costly. Another problem lies in incorrect estimates of the scope of the project and work to be done.

6. No support from higher up

Any project which lacks support from the company's management can't work in the long term. It will be a loss not only of resources, but, soon, also consumer confidence.

-kk-

Article source Project Times - a US website and community focused on project management
Read more articles from Project Times