Beware Of These Project Failure Signals!
What does project failure look like? How do you spot the signals in the early phase when you can still remedy the situation? We will look at these common early warning signs of project failure and discuss the damages and outcomes if you don’t remediate immediately.
Disengaged Stakeholders
Stakeholders' perception of success and failure is pivotal in deeming a project successful. If stakeholders are disengaged, it will lead to your team not accomplishing the desired results.
As a project manager, you must get the buy-in of key stakeholders first and foremost. Without stakeholder involvement, you run a risk of stakeholder resentment towards the project. Engaging stakeholders can be as simple as scheduled update meetings and communication from a single source.
Bad Timing
They say timing is everything and sometimes it's just not the right time to do a project. There are plenty of possible reasons for this. Maybe the company doesn't have the leadership or resources in place, or maybe the end users aren't ready for the change.
Whatever the reason, recognize this quickly and change the project kick-off date to a timeframe the company can commit to.
The Team is Not Quite Right
Projects are a result of the people and processes that make up the project. In the true sense, there's no magic formula to ‘choosing’ the right team. However, just like putting together any cohesive group of people, the human elements of personality, skill set, drive, ambition and behavior need to be factored into the configuration.
Successful teams are the result of embracing and encouraging close collaboration, knowledge sharing and team spirit. All three are crucial to project success. Why? If the project team is dysfunctional, fragmented and antagonistic, communication will break down, leading to an environment that diverts attention away from the project.
Additionally, project teams should consist of people who can rely on prior experience when faced with obstacles and problems. Seasoned professionals that enable the project team to perform based on their conditioning and experience can have confidence in their decision-making abilities and know how to pivot and adjust quickly to test different methodologies.
Power Struggle
The desire for recognition is usually the driving factor that leads to a power struggle within the team. This can be just as fatal as a lack of leadership. A power struggle dilutes the focus of delivering the agreed-upon objectives.
A strong project manager will be able to handle the delicate balance of maintaining the power dynamics within a project team and deliver consistent results.
When Project Failure is Not an Option
Project management consulting from ASB Resources offers a combination of services including best-in-class project management consulting, and a certified project management training curriculum. When project failure is not an option, contact the project management consultants at ASB Resources.
