Management Assignment Samples

Assignment Sample On The Common Reasons For Project Faliure And The Strategies To Avoid Such Reasons

Question:- What are some common reasons for project failure? Name at least four strategies to avoid the reasons described. Or Why is it important to develop a preliminary project scope statement during project initiation? 

Answer:-

Introduction

In this present world, the most project failure has been foreseen in the software industries. Kendrick (2015) mentioned that so many reasons are behind almost 50% project failure in the software industries. Most of the project failure can be measured by the conducted surveys, which is defining the lack of process for achieving the set objectives within the specific budget. In this study, the different issues concerning the project failure have been described further.

The Reasons for the Project failure

In most of the cases, it has been seen that the workforces of the organisation cannot finish their projects on time and within the specified budget. However, Kerzner (2013) pointed out that the execution of the proper planning of a project has to face several pitfalls. So many of the reasons can be behind such failures, and these have been discussed further.

Reason 1: Project Invisibility

According to Heagney (2012), there are three main requirements, which are needed to be assessed during the executions of the Project. These three main ranks are the effective Executive Management, the Project Managers, and the Team Members.

Walker (2015) referred that in time of managing any project, the Organisation receives many complaints from the executives for the lack of visibility. The executives usually do not get the chance to access the project schedule, which is quite challenging for the execution of the project. When the executives are presenting any particular project, most of the times this is failed as the executed projects are not updated as per the project schedule.

On the other hand, the manager face problem to match the project outset as per the schedule as the schedule is not updated. Gido and Clements (2014) indicated that managers overlook such problem, as they are usually occupied with the other management activities. It is evident that during the time of project execution, the team members complain the most, as they do not get the permission to visit the proper scheduling. On the other side, they are assigned with multiple projects, which is quite tough for them to manage simultaneously.

Reason 2: Lack of clear objectives

It has been seen the top executives of the organisation are sometimes confused while presenting their actual goal or objectives for the organisation. As they are not sure about the objectives, the entire project management has to suffer for this. The unclear objectives are difficult for initializing the relevant strategic implementation. On the other side, the project managers are assigned to the different projects at a time and budget limitation. Few of the experienced managers inform the management about such inadequacy while some of the managers fail to manage the project (Hirschman, 2011). The lack of relevant leadership can be one of the main reasons for the project failure. Since, the team members have to do overtime for finishing any particular project, there are some huge chance for the employee turnovers.

Reason 3: Lack of Required Resource Management

Lowendahl (2014) referred that when the employees are working for so long, the more resources are used. Therefore, sometimes the executives have to face several difficulties with the insufficient resources. Even, the executives are not so much efficiently getting the idea of such concept, and this proves to be one of the major reasons for the project failure.

Reason 4: Communication Gaps

The establishment of the transparent communication is essential while performing any Project Management. The executive manager takes the report monthly or weekly basis and the project manager has to provide such report to the executive manager (Edmondson, 2011). As per some of the executive, the project managers do not maintain the relevant way for communicating about the project. On the other hand, while project managers are communicating through the e-mail group, they sometimes fail to click on ‘reply-to-all’. Therefore, most of the team members do not receive the information related to the project. The process sometimes wastes a lot of time for the entire project members.

Strategies for Resolving the Problem

In concerning the issue of the failure project management, the organisation should implement several relevant strategies. Such strategic implementations would be effective enough in resolving such issues and executing a proper project management.

Strategy 1: Publishing of the Visible Location of the Projects

Since the world has changed, the amendments of the latest technical tools have become very effective. In concerning the relevant assessment of the project management, the changes and the advancements of the technical tools, people, and processes are very essential. The technical tool should be used for creating a centralized source from where the project manager, the executive managers, and the team members would be able to visualize the project scheduling. The correspondent document sharing sources would also be very much effective in making the entire project management team aware of the proper project scheduling.

Strategy 2: Ranking the Project Initiatives

It is evident that the executive management determines the long-term effective objectives for the Organisation and they are the ones to execute the proper strategies for achieving such goals. If the Organisation can structure the Risk Assessment Department, it will be beneficial for the project managers to execute a proper planning concerning the higher priority level.

Strategy 3: Creation of the Resource Management Grid

In concerning a proper planning for the resource management, the managers have to look for the sufficient use of the resource. It is to be indicated that the resources should be allowed for the limited time, and the employees are allowed to work within such time limitation. It will be helpful enough for saving the resource rather than wasting it. The use of the simplest tools can be considered in such manner.

Strategy 4: the Evaluation of the Centralized Source of Communication

Since, the project executions are failed due to the lack of effective communication, the new strategy has to initiate the establishment of Centralized Location of Communication. The web-based collaborative system of the effective communication would be significant for the proper assessment of project management. With the help of the centralized communication process, the executive manager, the project manager, and the team members would be able to communicate with each other and clarify the requirements.

Conclusion

The Project Failure concerns several issues, which are needed to be resolved. The execution of the proper strategies would be effective enough in managing a particular project. The implementation of the required strategies is therefore working as the driving forces for the successful project management.

References

Edmondson, A. C. (2011). Strategies for learning from failure. Harvard Business Review, 89(4), 48-55.

Gido, J., and Clements, J. (2014). Successful project management. Cengage Learning.

Heagney, J. (2012). Fundamentals of project management. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.

Hirschman, A. O. (2011). Development projects observed. Brookings Institution Press.

Kendrick, T. (2015). Identifying and managing project risk: essential tools for failure-proofing your project. AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn.

Kerzner, H. R. (2013). Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley and Sons.

Lowendahl, B. R. (2014). 11 Co-operative strategies for professional service firms: unique opportunities and challenges. Coalitions and Competition (Routledge Revivals): The Globalization of Professional Business Services, 161.

Walker, A. (2015). Project management in construction. John Wiley and Sons.