Project management is a kind of businesses that ensures the successful and timely completion of a temporary undertaking. Projects are temporary undertakings with limited amount to time and are usually formulated with specific objectives. Such objectives are supposed to measurable and attainable within the project time schedule. Project managers must take into consideration several aspects regarding the project and plan for the project appropriately. Several project management schemes such as the traditional project lifecycle methods and cyclic project management method have been used in the past . However, several projects never see completion or if they do, some of the vital objectives are never met. In order to understand why projects fail, this paper reviewed nine problems that can hinder the successful completion of projects.
Failure to plan
One of the most common problems associated with failed project is failure to plan for the project in the first place. Thorough evaluation of the project is important for the success of any undertaking. In some instances, some untrained amateurs who take time to evaluate projects and plan for the project have registered considerable success . On the other hand, professionals who assume that they have vast experience in projects fail to deliver on the projects due failure to plan for the project. Every project is unique and managers need to plan uniquely for every project.
Failure to Exhaustive Plan
The second problem associated with project failure is lack of exhaustive planning. While planning for a project, the project management team should exhaustively plan for all activities associated with the project. Leaving some activities of the project unaccounted for might cause problems during project execution. For instance, planning for the project using unrealistic assumptions puts the project estimates at an unattainable point. Other unforeseen issues such as inflation or one of the employees getting sick would have the project falling behind schedule .
Failure to Include Risks in Planning
A common industry practice by project managers is the transfer of previous project management scheme to new projects. McConnell (2001), asserts that several bridge builders have always employed similar management methods in planning projects. However, each project is unique and bears its own challenges. When such challenges are not properly managed, they turn into risks that could put the project in jeopardy. Planning for these challenges is in itself risk management.
Applying Similar Project Plans
As earlier stated, most experienced project managers tend to apply the same project management methods in executing dissimilar projects. At the beginning of the project this system might work appropriately well; however, as the project progresses, the variation in project begins to come to the fold. Managers need to proactively approach each project in a unique way.
Indiscriminate Use of Prepackaged Plans
Other project management teams employ a myriad of prepackaged project management plans. These prepackaged plans can sometimes be employed indiscriminately whereby any project is assigned any management plan. Such process puts a unique project plan in jeopardy.
Planning Without Project Reality
A common practice in project management is planning for the project at the beginning of the project and not referring to the project during the implementation stage. As the project continues, the variables are not put into consideration in the plan . Thus, mid way through the project, there isn’t any active management method.
Detailed Planning Early in the Project
Some project managers have good intent in planning complete aspects of the project at the beginning of the project. Sticking to such a thoroughly planned project at the beginning of the project makes its execution quite rigid and this is dangerous when it comes to project implementation.
Planning to Make Up Lost Ground Later
In most project implementation strategies, the project team is allowed to somehow slow down at the beginning since the team is not well acquainted with the project . These project managers assume that once the team is knowledgeable about the project, they will make up lost ground later in the project. This is dangerous as the project is not likely to meet its time schedule
Failure to Correct Past Mistakes
In project management, there might be mistakes that project managers may be aware of. Failing to solve those past mistakes, such as failure to plan, is a sure way of threatening successful project implementation.
Conclusion
Project management needs to taken with seriousness and dedication if a project is to be successfully completed. Managers need to perform planning that is cautious of future changes in the project. This will allow smooth implementation of the project.
References
Ahuja, S. (1999, Nov-Dec). Laying the Groundwork for Success. IEEE Software, vol. 16, no. 6, , pp. 72-75.
McConnell, S. (2001). The Nine Deadly Sins of Project Planning. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from www.construx.com: http://www.construx.com/File.ashx?cid=1190
