Many projects struggle. Sometimes the causes are
subtle and complicated. Other times the causes are pretty straightforward. Here
are ten reasons why projects struggle. If your project has one or more of these
characteristics you can expect to struggle - maybe even fail.
1. Insufficient
resources. The project manager builds a schedule assuming a
certain level of resources will be available. If you don't have the level of
resources or budget you need, You are going to struggle. Be sure to tell your
project sponsor quickly.
2. Impossible
deadlines. Sometimes a project is assigned with a fixed
deadline that is impossible to achieve. Sometimes these projects are referred
to as a "death march". The project manager should tell the sponsor at
the start of the project and fight to have the deadline extended, the scope
reduced or resources increased. You not only need to have sufficient time to
deliver your project, but you also need contingency in case things take longer
than expected.
3. Not
managing expectations. The project manager fails to communicate
the true status of the project to the team and sponsor. So everyone thinks the
project is going smoothly until the deadline is missed. You need to tell people
early if it’s slipping. Don't hide it. By telling people you're running late,
you give them the opportunity to help get it back on track.
4. Lack of
focus. The team doesn’t really know what is expected of them, so they lack
focus. They are given a job to do but not told what is required and by when.
Everyone in your team should have regular goals to meet, they should have
deadlines and you should be monitoring their progress at every step in the
journey.
5. Low
morale. The project team lacks motivation, so nothing is delivered on time. If
you want someone to deliver within a set timeframe, then you need to motivate
them to do it through reward and recognition. And you need to be highly
motivated yourself. Only by being healthy, relaxed and truly motivated can you
inspire others to be.
6. Lack of
sponsor support. The project manager gets very little support from
their sponsor. There is no one available to help solve problems or provide
further resource or money when it's needed. If you lack sponsor support,
address it early. Be open and frank with them. Tell them what you need and by
when.
7. Scope
creep. The scope of the project keeps changing, so you never really have a
fixed set of deliverables. Every time it changes, you lose time and resource,
so change control is critical. The scope needs to be clearly defined and then a
process put in place to ensure that change requests are formally approved.
8. The
project is too long. The project timescale may simply be too long.
Over time your customer's requirements will change, so you need to break your
project into smaller chunks and deliver each as a project on its own.
9. Lack of
tools and processes. Not having the right tools to get the job done
can also be a problem. Using good quality tools such as templates, processes
and a project methodology will lead to project success.
Insufficient of customer
involvement.
Lack of customer involvement has proved fatal on many projects. You need to
involve your customer throughout the project to ensure that what you are
building will meet their requirements. Remember, only if your customer is truly
satisfied will your project is a success.