I'm often asked why I focus on the causes of project failure rather than placing a greater emphasis on projects that succeeded? I’ve been asked often enough that I’ve written the following post to allow a broader audience to understand the response.
“Although we tend to seek simple, single factored reasons for success, in most important things, success actually requires avoiding the many possible causes of failure” ... Jared Diamond (Pulitzer prize winner)
Being assigned to a large project...
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Externalization
Much like the famous twelve step program used for dealing with substance abuse, a first step in addressing the issues that lead to project failure is a willingness to admit that a problem exists.
Facing up to a mistake or being willing to take ownership for events that we feel reflect poorly upon us, is something that many find hard to do. In the political realm that exists whenever human beings interact, there is an inherent fear that an admission of failure will hold forth unimaginable cons...
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Top of the Pops
I recently carried out a review of the various “top 10 reasons for project failure” lists that pop up on the internet on a regular basis. These lists tend to be popular and as such are frequently referenced in training sessions and blogs.
Not surprisingly these lists have common themes. Collating the most frequent into one “top of the pops” list reveals the big three;
Changing requirements
Lack of stakeholder participation
Lack of vision / goal
Although such lists are fun and many peopl...
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