What causes project failure? 12 common issues in project management and their solutions.

What causes project failure? 12 common issues in project management and their solutions.

No one likes to admit failure, but it’s an essential part of any project. Without fail, there will be bumps in the road and challenges to overcome. The key is to learn from these failures and use them as a springboard for success.

By understanding the root cause of failures, project managers can avoid making the same mistakes in the future. In some cases, failure can even be a good thing, leading to new insights and innovative solutions. So don’t be afraid to fail; it’s often the first step on the road to success.

In this article, we’ll explore the 12 most common causes of project failure and what you can do to avoid them.

Failure in project management stats (problem)

There was a gigantic study done by Wellington a few years back that sheds some light on the trends in project management.

According to the Wellington State of Project Management report,

• 43% of projects are completed within budget.
• Only 29% of the firms examined complete projects on schedule.
• 47% say their organization has a track record of project success
• 40% of organizations mostly or always deliver the full benefits of their projects
• 54% of companies don’t have access to real-time project KPIs (key performance indicators). Which means they are flying blind and can’t course-correct quickly.

These statistics are staggering, but they don’t tell the whole story. For example, what exactly constitutes a “failed” project? Is it a project that comes in over budget? Is it a project that doesn’t meet all its objectives?

There are several different metrics for assessing project success or failure, but we consider a project to be unsuccessful if one of the three categories below is not satisfied.

Budget overruns: This is when a project exceeds its budget. This can be caused by several factors, such as unexpected costs, and poor project planning.

Schedule delays: This is when a project takes longer to complete than what was originally agreed upon. This can be caused by several factors, such as scope creep, unrealistic expectations, and poor project management.

Product/service doesn’t meet expectations: This is when the final product or service doesn’t meet the original objectives. This can be caused by several factors, such as scope creep, unrealistic expectations, and poor project management.

To avoid project failure, it’s important to take a proactive approach and address the causes head-on.

The top 12 most common causes of project failure, and tactics for fighting them.

Now that we’ve defined what we mean by a “failed” project, let’s take a look at the 12 most common causes of project failure.

1. “Flaky Company Culture”

What we mean by “flaky company culture” is a company culture that isn’t conducive to successful project management. For example, if there is a lot of infighting among team members, or if decision-makers are constantly changing their minds, this can lead to projects that are mismanaged from the start.

A “flaky company culture” can lead to the failure of a project. This is because if team members are not held accountable, they will not be productive. For a project to be successful, team members must be productive. However, this is often difficult when there is a “flaky company culture.”

To avoid this, it’s important to create a company culture that values collaboration and clear communication.

There are several solutions for how to improve company culture to increase productivity. One solution is to have regular meetings in which team members are held accountable. Another solution is to establish clear goals and deadlines for projects. Finally, it is important to provide feedback regularly so that team members know how they are doing.

2. “Green” project managers

“Green” project managers are those who are new to the role of project manager. They often don’t have the experience or knowledge necessary to successfully manage a project.

A “green” project manager can lead to the failure of a project. This is because they may not know how to properly communicate with team members, set clear goals, or establish a project timeline.

To avoid this, it’s important to choose a project manager who is experienced and knowledgeable. The best way to do this is to look for someone who has managed similar projects in the past.

It’s also important to provide training for “green” project managers. This training should cover topics such as project management basics, communication skills, and goal setting.

3. Unclear objectives

If the objectives of a project are not clear, it can lead to confusion and ultimately, project failure. This is because team members will not know what they are supposed to be working on, and the project may veer off course.

To avoid this, it’s important to have a clear and concise project plan. The project plan should include the objectives of the project, as well as what needs to be done to achieve those objectives.

It’s also important to communicate the project plan to all team members. This way, everyone is on the same page and knows what needs to be done.

4. Lack of funding

A lack of funding is one of the most common causes of project failure. This is because, without adequate funding, a project cannot be completed.

To avoid this, it’s important to have a clear and concise budget for the project. The budget should include all costs associated with the project, such as materials, labor, and overhead.

It’s also important to have a contingency plan for what to do if the project goes over budget. This contingency plan should include ways to cut costs and save money. Also, make sure to communicate the budget to all team members so that they are aware of what is expected of them.

5. Insufficient supply of resources

Inadequate resources are another common cause of project failure. This is because, without enough resources, a project cannot be completed.

To avoid this, it’s important to have a clear and concise plan for what resources are needed for the project. The resource plan should include all materials, labor, and equipment needed for the project.

This is also an example of when a contingency plan is required, since the project may need more resources than are accessible. This plan should include ways to obtain additional resources, such as borrowing from other projects or renting equipment.

6. Unrealistic expectations

Biting off more than you can chew is a recipe for disaster. When team members or project managers set unrealistic expectations, it can lead to frustration and ultimately, project failure.

To avoid this, it’s important to be realistic about what can be accomplished within the constraints of the project. This means setting achievable goals and deadlines. It’s also important to communicate these expectations to all team members so that everyone is on the same page.

7. Poor communication

Poor communication is one of the most common causes of project failure. This is because, without effective communication, team members will not be able to work together effectively.

There are many ways to improve communication on a project. First, it’s important to have a clear and concise plan for how the information will be shared. This plan should include who needs to be updated on what, and when they need to be updated.

It’s also important to use the right communication channels for the project. For example, email may be sufficient for some projects, but others may require face-to-face meetings or conference calls.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that communication is clear and concise. This means avoiding jargon and using simple language that everyone can understand.

8. Scheduling blunders

Poorly managed schedules are another common cause of project failure. This is because, without a well-organized schedule, team members will not be able to work together effectively.

There are many ways to avoid scheduling blunders. First, it’s important to have a clear and concise plan for the project. This plan should include all tasks that need to be completed, as well as when they need to be completed.

It’s also important to use a scheduling tool that everyone can access and understand. This could be something as simple as a whiteboard or a more complex software program.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that the schedule is followed. This means enforcing deadlines and holding team members accountable for their tasks.

9. Lack of team cohesion

If team members are not working together, it can lead to project failure. This is because, without teamwork, team members will not be able to complete their tasks effectively.

There are many ways to promote teamwork on a project. First, it’s important to make sure that team members are aware of their roles and responsibilities. This means having a clear and concise plan for the project.

It’s also important to promote collaboration among team members. This can be done by holding regular meetings where team members can share ideas and work together on tasks.

Finally, it’s important to reward teamwork. This could be done by giving team members bonuses or recognition for their efforts.

10. Leadership problems

Leadership problems can also lead to project failure. This is because, without effective leadership, team members will not be able to work together effectively.

There are many ways to avoid leadership problems. First, it’s important to make sure that the project manager is clear about their vision for the project. This means having a clear and concise plan for the project.

It’s also important to make sure that the project manager is accessible to team members. This means holding regular meetings and being available to answer questions.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that the project manager is fair. This means treating all team members equally and enforcing deadlines equally.

11. Transparency issues

Lack of transparency is another common cause of project failure. This is because, without transparency, team members will not be able to trust each other.

There are many ways to promote transparency on a project. First, it’s important to make sure that team members are aware of their roles and responsibilities. This means having a clear and concise plan for the project.

It’s also important to make sure that team members have access to information. This can be done by holding regular meetings and sharing information openly.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that team members are held accountable for their actions. This could be done by giving team members bonuses or recognition for their efforts.

12. Ignoring warning signs

When projects start to fail there are often signs that can alert you to the impending doom. Unfortunately, these signs are often ignored which leads to the failure of the project.

There are many reasons why warning signs are ignored. First, it’s often because team members are afraid of speaking up. This means that they don’t want to confront the problem head-on.

It’s also often because team members don’t want to admit that the project is failing. This means that they’ll continue to work on the project even though it’s clear that it’s not going to succeed.

Finally, it’s often because team members are too invested in the project. This means that they’re reluctant to give up even when it’s clear that the project is doomed.

To mitigate the risk of ignoring warning signs, it’s important to create an environment where team members feel comfortable speaking up. This means having regular meetings where team members can share their concerns.

It’s also important to make sure that team members are honest with each other. This means being open about the project’s progress and admitting when things are going wrong.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that team members are willing to take risks. This means being willing to experiment and try new things even if there’s a chance of failure.

Projects often fail because warning signs are ignored. To avoid this, it’s important to create an environment where team members feel comfortable speaking up, honest with each other, and willing to take risks.

13. Not learning from mistakes

One of the biggest reasons why projects fail is because team members don’t learn from their mistakes. This means that they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again which leads to the project failing.

There are many ways to avoid this problem. First, it’s important to make sure that team members are aware of their mistakes. This can be done by holding regular meetings and sharing information openly.

It’s also important to make sure that team members are honest with each other. This means being open about the project’s progress and admitting when things are going wrong.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that team members are willing to learn from their mistakes. This means being willing to experiment and try new things even if there’s a chance of failure.

14. Not having a backup plan

Another common cause of project failure is not having a backup plan. This is because, without a backup plan, team members will not be able to recover from setbacks.

There are many ways to create a backup plan. First, it’s important to make sure that team members are aware of their roles and responsibilities. This means having a clear and concise plan for the project.

It’s also important to make sure that team members have access to information. This can be done by holding regular meetings and sharing information openly.

Finally, it’s important to make sure that team members are held accountable for their actions. This could be done by giving team members bonuses or recognition for their efforts.

The perfect tool for the job

Creating and managing a workflow system might appear complex, but when complemented with the appropriate software, like Teamly’s single management tool, the process becomes simple to comprehend and develop in a short period of time, allowing you to observe outcomes quickly.

With Teamly, you can:

• Easily create and manage your workflows
• Get real-time updates on the status of your workflows
• Receive notifications when a workflow is complete
• Track the progress of your workflows over time

The benefits of using Teamly’s workflow management tool are clear. By streamlining the process of creating and managing workflows, you can save time and resources, while ensuring that your workflows are effective and efficient. With Teamly, you can be confident that your projects will run smoothly and be completed on time.