1. Common Reasons Why Projects Go Right— or Horribly Wrong! How to Get Your Project to Succeed, Not Tank!

2. Why Projects Tank-1 Your project plan has no basis in reality, or is too complex or far too simple. Because you can’t iron out conflicts, you waste time and resources. Your leadership is inept, inappropriate, or just plain missing. The managers working for you are inept, inappropriate, or just plain clueless.

3. Why Projects Tank-2 Nobody ever got around to agreeing on the project’s goals and objectives in the first place. Major problems go unresolved. There isn’t enough staff, or the staff is inappropriate for the job. Inadequate oversight has kept problems from being anticipated.

4. Why Projects Tank-3 Inadequate control has prevented problems from being dealt with immediately upon recognition. Someone overlooked required tasks. Someone overlooked required resources. Poor communications: –Between team members –Between project manager and team –Between project manager and executive management

5. Why Projects Tank-4 Inexperienced project manager. The wheel gets reinvented. Unforeseen circumstances. Changes in organizational requirements

6. Why Projects Succeed-1 The project plan is realistic –The stakeholders agree with it –Project requirements have been carefully analyzed The project manager quickly resolves conflict. The project manager is a strong leader –Can interface well with executive management –Gets along well with members of the project team Objectives and goals are clear and concise. –Everyone fully understands what is expected.

7. Why Projects Succeed-2 Because of careful reporting and monitoring, the project is tracked from beginning to end. There is enough staff in the right numbers who are available at the correct time to handle every single task properly. Task and resource requirements were successfully identified and budgeted before the project started.

8. Why Projects Succeed-3 The project manager is hands-on and participates with team members to: –Help out –Listen to problems –Resolve conflicts –See firsthand what work needs to be done Similar projects are studied to learn what problems are to be expected and how they should be handled.

9. Why Projects Succeed-4 Most critically, stakeholders are kept informed and satisfied throughout the project. If, at the end, they agree that the project indeed met their expectations, the project is a success!