by Brenda J. Christie
An article on why organizations fail at project management. It lists 5 top reasons which contribute to failure using project management. Read it on TechRepublic: Top five on reasons organizations fail at project management
I would add lack of faith. Many people believe in cliches, such as ,"you can never know the future." They don't have faith in the process so as a result, they don;t surrender to the methodology and "wing it", or otherwise resist it (read sabotage it). Many have successfully managed smaller projects of lesser scope without a PM system. A hubris is then attached to these minor successes. They consider the time used updating task, resources, progress and limitations as taking away from "real" work, beneath them, give it secondary priority, ending up blinding other participants (and management) to the existence of problems, delays, or resource shortages in the project. After a while it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, they truly have no time for project management paperwork, because they are completely lost. Since the PM system is still in place it becomes a proper scapegoat for the shortcomings of project leaders to remain invested in the method. After this the failure becomes imbedded in the culture of the group as "folly" we have tried before and wasted precious project time. Recommend its use at your own peril.
ReplyDeleteThere are many reasons why someone would sabatoge a project, including one using project management. One reason is fear; another is resistence to change ("if it aint broke, don't break it"). There is also lack of buy-kn, as well as lack of accountability.
DeleteI think the largest impediment, however, is the basic lack of understanding of what project management is. So before embarking on a project using PM it is essential to provide formal training. A monitor and control phase would follow formal training, along with development of a risk management plan which would include steps to b e taken in the event PM were not followed rigorously. This would be created with the project management team. And of course, there would have to be "buy-in" and ownership.
For those new to the PM field, it is also helpful to have an experience person serve as a mentor. This function can also be performed by a Project Managemet Office, if one exists.