Why Projects Fail...

Sometimes, projects feel like recipes: there are many inputs or ingredients, and if you don’t have enough of a specific thing, the recipe may fall apart altogether.

When we reflect on previous projects that have failed (meaning: they didn’t achieve the outcome or goal that we had set), a common theme emerges. Scope.

One of the most important elements in any project is properly defining scope (so that it isn’t too large), and then controlling scope so that it doesn’t grow in a way that makes the entire endeavor unrealistic. Even though most project managers set out with a very specific goal and corresponding scope, the reality is most leadership teams want more, faster. Often, these promises are communicated up the chain of command and then the project manager has to figure out how to deliver.

Most leaders today believe that faster is better. Faster is not always better. It can mean sloppy execution, inaccurate goals and unreasonable outcomes, leaving behind frustrated teams who find less and less inspiration in their daily work. Ultimately, team culture begins to erode and productivity decreases.

So, what’s the cure?

Courage. If more project managers had the courage to speak up when scope creep occurred, to push back (respectfully) and ask for support & trust from their leaders, we think project fail rate would reduce by at least half.

Why is it so hard to say no? Why don’t we have the confidence to push back when it makes sense and lay out a plan that ensures success even if it takes longer to achieve? Perhaps it’s because we’ve never really had to - and until a project fails for this reason, we probably won’t.

Here’s the good news: Failed projects are gifts. Gifts that allow us to learn and grow. And with time and growth, the experienced project manager gains the confidence and the skill to successfully protect scope and keep project teams focused on the goal.

But as stated earlier, projects are like recipes. And even with perfectly protected scope, there may be another ingredient that gets out of whack… topics similar to this will be explored here. Join us as we take this journey to share some of our project insights and tips.

Sincerely,

The G1 Consulting Group