1: PLANNING CONCEPT

Why Projects and Plans Fail

Projects may fail for a number of reasons. Many failures can be prevented if the appropriate
level of planning is applied. For each of the following reasons for failure, provide a possible
solution or preventive measure.

a. Corporate goals are not understood at the lower or organizational levels or functional
units.
b. Plans are too complex and require too much in too little time.
c. Financial estimates are significantly inaccurate.
d. Plans are based on insufficient data.
e. Planning is performed by a planning group.
f. No one knows the ultimate objective of the project.
g. Staffing requirements are not clearly understood.
h. The project personnel lack the required skills.
i. The project team is not working toward the same specifications.
j. The project team is constantly being shuffled in and out of the project.

Answer:
a. Review corporate goals with the sponsor and then communicate to the project
team. Provide an opportunity for feedback to ensure understanding
b. Review the project objectives and consider breaking into smaller separate projects
introduced in phases
c. Establish reliable and consistent estimating practices. Use lessons learned and
previous projects for comparison.
d. Conduct feasibility studies and cost benefit analysis. Conduct risk assessment.
Obtain expert knowledge.
e. Arrange to have plans developed by the functional units that will perform the
work.
f. Establish clear roles and responsibilities at project kickoff. Prepare and communicate
a project scope statement.
g. Create a WBS; use a scope statement and the project charter to determine staffing
and resource needs.
h. Establish a screening process for staffing or schedule training for team
members.
i. Define project specifications and requirements early in the project. Document
and distribute specifications. Conduct reviews.
j. Establish formal signed agreements from functional units when obtaining project
staff. Arrange for contingencies or back-up personnel. Cross-train. Escalate
to the project sponsor.