Analysis of Failed Projects

Analysis of Failed Projects

In this paper I will discuss how multiple actions or lack there of can play in failed projects. There are many things that can affect the outcome of a project and it is very important to know what causes a project to fail. When the major components are identified that cause a project to not succeed, this failure of the project can be avoided.

Lack of planning plays a very important role in a failed project. If a project is not planned properly it can affect a multitude of things in the project. One of the most critical things that a lack of planning can affect is the amount of time that is spent on a project. If more time than that which is needed is wasted on a project, then this will waste valuable money and resources. If enough time is not planned for the project, then important details can be missed. Without a plan of action, vital material may be left out of the project. This can cause the project to fail because it may not accomplish what the project was designed to achieve. Poor project planning can cause the goals of the project to be left unfinished.

Upper management's role in a failed project consists of several responsibilities. One of the key problems of upper management would be lack of direction or no input. Without input, employees working on a project will not be able to meet the needs that will enable them to complete the project. Upper management has to remain proactive with the project. By doing so, it will inspire the employees who are working in the project to become more involved. If management does not take an active role in the project, then the employees may not know how to move the project forward and may not be as eager to complete the project.

A restricted budget can cause many problems that lead to the failure of a project. Of course, every project has some type of budget restraint, but too tight of a budget is a plan for failure. If the budget is low on funds, then the employees may not have all of the proper materials required for completing a successful project. An under budgeted project may also not have enough money to pay for the proper amount of man hours required to finish a project, or may not be able to hire the required personnel at all.

A tight time limit may also play a role in the failure of a project. When a project is rushed, it may be done sloppily because employees tend not to pay as much attention to pertinent details. I believe that employees give up more easily when time restrictions are unreasonable. Time schedules must be somewhat flexible for a project to be completed at its full potential.

Power struggles by members trying to complete a project can be detrimental. Power struggles between management can lead to employee confusion. Employees may not know which manager to follow. Contradictions on decisions may cause extra or needless work. The workers of the project may do