INADEQUATELY TRAINED AND/OR INEXPERIENCED PROJECT MANAGERS
FAILURE TO SET AND MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
POOR LEADERSHIP AT ANY AND ALL LEVELS
FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY IDENTIFY, DOCUMENT AND TRACK REQUIREMENTS
POOR PLANS AND PLANNING PROCESSES
POOR EFFORT ESTIMATION
CULTURAL AND ETHICAL MISALIGNMENT
MISALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE PROJECT TEAM AND THE BUSINESS OR OTHER ORGANIZATION IT SERVES
INADEQUATE OR MISUSED METHODS
INADEQUATE COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING PROGRESS TRACKING AND REPORTING
FOR ENTERPRISE INITIATIVES I WOULD ADD THESE:
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU START RESEARCHING A LARGE IT INITIATIVE AND YOU SEE ALL THE NEGATIVE PUBLICITY ABOUT YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:
- DO WE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP REQUIRED TO TAKE ON THIS PROJECT?
- DO WE HAVE ENOUGH CHANGE AGENTS TO CHANGE OUR CULTURE?
- WILL WE BE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH FUNDING TO ADEQUATELY MEET OUR OBJECTIVES?
- WILL WE GET THE SUPPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVES AND/OR THE BUSINESS?
IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS IS "NO", THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO LISTEN TO THE WARNINGS FROM THE ARTICLES. IF THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF THESE ARE "YES", THEN IT ALL COMES DOWN TO HOW GOOD OF A PLAN YOU PUT TOGETHER AND HOW WELL YOU EXECUTE THE PLAN. DON'T BE RISK ADVERSE AND LET FEAR GET IN THE WAY.
Author: Michael Kavis -