1. What are the common reasons software development projects fail?
Project Failure
What are the common reasons software development projects fail?

2. Starter Question
In terms of a software development project, define "success" and "failure".
Cost, Time, Functionality, and Quality

3. Software Project Failure
Standish Group:
90 percent of software projects are completed late
66 percent are deemed failures
30 percent are abandoned
That figure is probably falsely too high.
probably 70% are late
probably 30% are significantly late
probably over 80% do not fulfill 100% of requirements
Everyone agrees the failure rate is too high.

4. “Critical Success Factors in Software Projects”
Causes of Failure
Source:
“Critical Success Factors in Software Projects”
by John Reel
10 signs of IS project failure:
Project managers don’t understand users’ needs.
The project’s scope is ill-defined.
Project changes are managed poorly.
The chosen technology changes.
Business needs change.
Deadlines are unrealistic.
Users are resistant.
Sponsorship is lost.
The project lacks people with appropriate skills.
Managers ignore best practices and lessons learned.
1 – 7 occur before
even the design starts

5. Critical Success Factors
Source:
lots of reading by Dannelly
Stable Requirements
Accurate Estimations
Teamwork and Unified Vision
Attention to Risks
So how do we get these on a regular basis?

6. 34 Competencies
Essential competencies employed by the most successful software project managers.

7. 3 Categories Product Development Skills Project Management Skills
People Management Skills
blatantly stolen from
"Quality Software Project Management"
by Futrell, Shafer, Shafer
Prentice Hall PTR

8. Product Develop Skills
Awareness of Process Standards - best practices
Evaluating Alternative Processes - Evaluating various approaches
Tailoring Processes - Modifying standard processes to suit a project
Assessing Processes - Defining criteria for reviews
Defining the Product - Identifying customer environment and product requirements
Managing Requirements - Monitoring requirements changes
Managing Subcontractors - Planning, managing, & monitoring performance
Performing the Initial Assessment - Assessing difficulty, risks, costs and schedule
Selecting Methods and Tools - Defining selection processes
Tracking Product Quality - Monitoring the quality of an evolving product
Understanding Development Activities - Learning the software development cycle
34 Competencies

9. Project Management Skills
Building a WBS - determining the relationships between the work to be done.
Documenting Plans - describing how the work should be done.
Estimating Costs - Estimating cost to complete the project
Estimating Effort - Estimating effort required to complete the project
Managing Risks - Identifying and determining the impact of risks
Monitoring Development - Monitoring the production of software
Scheduling Work - Creating a schedule and key milestones
Selecting Metrics - Choosing and using appropriate metrics
Selecting Project Management Tools - Knowing how to select PM tools
Tracking Processes - Monitoring compliance of project team
Tracking Project Progress - Monitoring progress using metrics
34 Competencies

10. People Management Skills
Appraising Performance - Evaluating teams to enhance performance
Handling Intellectual Property - business law
Holding Effective Meetings - Planning and running excellent meetings
Interaction and Communication - Dealing with developers, upper management, and other teams
Leadership - Coaching project teams for optimal results
Managing Change - Being an effective change agent
Negotiating Successfully - Resolving conflicts and negotiating successfully
Planning Careers - Structuring and giving career guidance
Presenting Effectively - Using effective written and oral skills
Recruiting - Recruiting and interviewing team members successfully
Selecting a Team - Choosing highly competent teams
Teambuilding - Forming, guiding, and maintaining an effective team
34 Competencies

11. Questions Which skill are you currently the best at?
Which skill are you the worst at?
Which skill is probably the most difficult to learn?
Which skill is the most important?
Which skill(s) is not very important?