There are always equal chances of success and failure in the world of project management. It hence becomes important for project managers to know just how they can avoid and overcome project failure. Since failure happens to be more public than success, it will bring more bad publicity than success would bring good publicity.
People in the project management industry would be able to relate to the frequency of failures and the losses that they bring. However, the chances of failure can be minimized and avoided through proper techniques and management. With proper project management, businesses will be able to achieve a more congruent culture of consistency and accountability, where failures are minimized and successes are celebrated.
In this article, we take a look at some effective project management techniques that can be implemented to avoid failure in projects and to build the right success ratio. Project managers should know of effective ways to overcome failure, which is why this article is the right resource for your future.
Some ways to overcome project failure are:
Adopt a Proactive Approach
The very first way to avoid failure in project management is to avoid a practice approach to management. All experienced and highly skilled project managers will tell you that the ability to remain proactive is something that all project managers should know.
If you are new to project management, you should have an experienced pro or mentor present with you at all times to guide you to the right outcomes and help identify areas where you can improve. A proactive approach helps you avoid the chances of failure and also allows you to manage risk in a proper manner. Risks are common in project management and can be mitigated through a proactive approach, rather than a reactive one.
Plan Project Strategy and Implementation
Failure can always be avoided by planning your project strategy and working on proper implementation of that strategy. The project planning stage is often compromised by most project managers, which is why we feel there is a rapid increase in project failures in more recent projects.
Before you actually initiate the project, you should sit with your team members and core representatives from different stakeholders to set the right plan to take the project forward. The right plan will help avoid failure and also put down a path that is easy to follow for everyone in the meeting and within the firm.
Manage Goals
Every project has a scope and is meant to achieve a certain amount of objectives and goals. Make sure you keep an eye on project goals and manage them to whatever extent you can. Never rely on your memory or verbal communication when it comes to understanding project goals.
Keep a track of goals through the working process of the project to measure whether you’re on track to meet your objectives or not. Document your actions, decisions and every other progress through the course of the project and see how it helps you achieve your desired objectives.
Avoid Unrealistic Expectations
There is nothing that leads a project to failure more than unrealistic expectations. Always remember to set realistic expectations for your projects so that you are able to meet them. Your expectations will be communicated to your team members, your stakeholders and the customers you plan to satisfy through the project.
Make sure that you plan expectations according to the goals of the project and do not overpromise. Realistic expectations should be set in front of stakeholders, keeping your resources and employees in mind.
Always Track Progress
We’re appalled at the number of projects run today without a clear measure of the progress made and the time it will take to reach the results in mind. Tracking progress is known to have a number of benefits, including timely delivery of all promised deliverables.
Project tracking also helps you know whether you’re on track or behind the expected schedule. The current project delivery status will help let you know what kind of pace you will have to deliver on in the future to meet all project objectives. Consider the schedule, cost incurred and scope of the project during your tracking process.
Identify all Risks
A project risk is something that cannot be avoided at all costs, and is something that is bound to happen. The best way to mitigate risks is by identifying, analyzing and responding to all risk factors. Hence, as soon as you find out risk factors related to your project, you should identify them and come up with possible actions that can mitigate the impact of the risk.
Most projects go towards failure when risks aren’t managed in the way they should. The more mismanaged risk factors are, the more difficult it gets for a project to succeed and finish in time.
Get Solutions from Team Members
Although you are a project manager, it is highly unlikely that you’ll have the solutions for all problems that your project faces in its journey. The best way to manage complicated problems and roadblocks in the project journey is to sit down with your team members and determine the right approach to move forward. Team members will help guide you better here.
Continuous Improvement
Successful projects are based on continuous improvements and help achieve the outcomes that are expected of them. A continuous improvement strategy helps you monitor the progress of the project and work on patterns that can give you the desired outcomes and results.
Project success is something that comes down on the efficiency of the project team and the decision making skills of the project manager. With the details mentioned in this article, you can lead your projects to success and avoid failure.