Customs and Border Protection

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Department of Homeland Security – USA Project type : Staff recruitment Date : Apr 2019 Cost : $23M to hire 22 new staff Synopsis : In 2016, as part of the USA's renewed focus on border security, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was charged with increasing the number of border agents who secure the nation's points of entry. The goal was to ...
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Fyre Festival

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Project name : Fyre Festival Project type : Music festival Date : Apr 2017 Cost : Undeclared Synopsis : The execution of a large-scale music festival can be a complex Project Management challenge. The bigger the event, and the higher the expectations, the more challenging it becomes. Throw in a remote location, a lack of event planning experience, l...
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RIP Ideas

An organization’s future prosperity is of course directly correlated to its ability to remain relevant in the market place.  As we all know, to remain competitive organizations need to both innovate and invest. They need to stay in tune with their customers, be aware of shifting trends or disruptions and maintain a level of situational awareness that supports effective decision-making.  Most organizations are aware of those basics and CEO’s make efforts to stay on top of them. The “value” creati...
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Decision Defending

The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library illustrates some of the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Name : Decision Defending Type: Decision making / behavioral pattern In brief : A person locks in their answer to a question and shifts from trying to understand the ideas and opinions of others to promoting and defending their own idea. Description : Decision making in a group setting can be a frustrating ...
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The Vanishing Visionary

The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library.  The Pattern Library illustrates some of the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Name : Vanishing Visionary (aka dump and run) In brief : A Project Sponsor conceptualizes and initiates a project, but fails to follow through to ensure successful delivery. They provide the vision, assign the project to a Project Manager (dump) and then wash their hands of any further responsibility for the pr...
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Desperate for Done

The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Name : Desperate for done Scope : Behavioral pattern (patterns that influence the actions of an individual or group) Outline : Tracking the status of tasks is a key responsibility for the Project Manager. As part of that responsibility, Project Managers interact with the team to monitor the completion of each individual ac...
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Transitional Failure

The following entry is part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of behaviours and events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Pattern name : Transitional Failure  In brief : Deliverables are created, but the value the project hoped to create is lost due to an ineffective transition into the operational world and a failure to track outcomes Description : Rather than creating direct business value many projects create "enabler deliverab...
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Schedule Pressure Failure

The following entry is part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of behaviours and events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Pattern name : Schedule Pressure Failure In brief : An excessively aggressive schedule results in mistakes being made from which the project never recovers. Description : Excessive schedule pressure  can cause an otherwise capable team to make mistakes that ultimately end up causing serious damage to a pr...
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Focal Imbalance Failure

The following entry is part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of behaviours and events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Pattern name : Focal Imbalance Failure  In brief : Project team focuses their energies into certain parts of the project while paying insufficient attention to other critical aspects of the project. Description : Project success requires all critical aspects of the project be addressed. Failure to address one o...
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Disconnect Failure

The following entry is part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of behaviours and events that have the potential to lead to project failure. Pattern name : Disconnect Failure In brief : Project loses sight of its overall business objectives and ends up implementing a system that fails to meet the originally intended business objectives. Description : Disconnect failures occur when the project's intended business benefits fail to materialize beca...
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