Failure of project

Failure of a project is when the project fails to meet its goals or outcomes as determined by the project team or stakeholders. It usually occurs when the objectives are not met due to inadequate resources, scheduling delays, budget overruns, communication breakdowns, lack of stakeholder involvement, or inadequate quality. It is the result of inadequate planning, execution, and/or control of the project, and can lead to a lack of trust in the team, the project, and the organization, as well as a decrease in productivity. As a result, failure of a project can have significant financial and reputational consequences for the organization.

Example of failure of project

• A well-known example of a project failure was the HealthCare.gov website. Launched in 2013, the website was intended to provide Americans with an online marketplace to purchase health insurance coverage. Despite the time and money invested in the project, the website was plagued with technical problems and website outages shortly after its launch. This caused a significant delay in the rollout of the website, and the project was eventually scrapped and replaced with a new website in 2015.
• Another example of a project failure is the Apple Maps project. In 2012, Apple launched its own mapping service, which was intended to compete with Google Maps. Unfortunately, the project was fraught with errors, including inaccurate directions and misspelled place names. Apple was forced to apologize for the problems, and the project was eventually scrapped, with Apple reverting to using Google Maps.
• In 2017, the Theranos project failed. The project was intended to revolutionize the medical industry by providing faster and cheaper blood tests. The company claimed to have developed a revolutionary technology, but it was later revealed that the technology was inaccurate and unreliable. In addition, the company was found to have misled investors and was eventually forced to shut down.
• A less-known example of a project failure is the Brazilian Flag project. In 2014, the government of Brazil launched a project to create a new design for the Brazilian flag. The project was plagued with mismanagement, cost overruns, and delays, and the project was eventually scrapped without creating a new design for the flag.

Types of failure of project

There are several types of failure of a project which can occur due to inadequate planning, execution, or control. These include:

• Budget overruns: When project costs exceed the allocated budget, it can lead to a project failure. This can occur due to factors such as cost escalation, scope change, or an underestimation of the resources needed to complete the project.
• Communication breakdowns: Poor or inadequate communication between project stakeholders can lead to a project failure. This can occur due to a lack of clarity in communication, misunderstandings, or a lack of trust in the team.
• Scheduling delays: When a project is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, such as an unexpected delay in procurement of resources or changes in specifications, this can lead to a project failure.
• Lack of stakeholder involvement: If stakeholders are not adequately involved in the project, it can lead to a lack of ownership and commitment, resulting in a project failure.
• Inadequate quality: If the quality of the project does not meet the required standards, it can lead to a project failure. This can be caused by inadequate planning, execution, or control of the project.
• When an organization has invested significant resources into a project, but it has not met its objectives or outcomes.
• When a project team is unable to deliver the expected results or outcomes.
• When stakeholders are not satisfied with the results of a project.
• When there are delays in the implementation of a project due to inadequate resources, scheduling issues, or budget overruns.
• When there is a communication breakdown between the project team and the stakeholders.
• When there is a lack of stakeholder involvement in the project.
• When the quality of the deliverables is below expectations.
• When a project is canceled due to lack of resources, poor planning, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Causes of failure of project

A project can fail for a variety of reasons, but typically follows the same stages:

• Unclear Goals: The project team fails to define the project goals clearly and in detail, leading to confusion and lack of direction.
• Poor Communication: Poor communication among stakeholders and the project team can lead to misunderstandings, missed deadlines, and budget overruns.
• Poor Planning: Without adequate planning and forecasting, the project team cannot effectively manage resources and timelines, leading to delays and cost overruns.
• Poor Quality: Poor quality assurance processes can result in a product or service that does not meet customer expectations, leading to customer dissatisfaction and failure to achieve the project goals.
• Lack of Accountability: When the project team is not held accountable for their actions, it can lead to complacency and an inability to meet deadlines or budgets.
• Poor Risk Management: Without proper risk management, the project is more vulnerable to unexpected problems, resulting in delays, budget overruns, and customer dissatisfaction.

Other approaches related to failure of project

There are several other approaches related to failure of a project, including:

• Root Cause Analysis: Root cause analysis is a process of investigating and analyzing the underlying cause of a problem or failure. It involves identifying, analyzing, and correcting the root causes of failures to help reduce or eliminate similar problems in the future.
• Change Management: Change management is a structured approach to managing and implementing changes in an organization. It involves understanding the impact of changes, identifying the stakeholders involved, developing a plan for implementing the changes, and monitoring the progress.
• Risk Management: Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and managing potential risks that could affect the success of a project. It involves assessing the likelihood of risks occurring, developing strategies to mitigate or avoid risks, and monitoring the progress of risk management activities.
• Quality Assurance: Quality assurance is a process of ensuring that a product or service meets quality standards. It involves establishing quality criteria, evaluating product or service performance against these criteria, and taking corrective action if necessary.

In conclusion, there are a number of approaches related to failure of a project, including root cause analysis, change management, risk management, and quality assurance. All of these approaches can help organizations to identify, analyze, and address issues to reduce the likelihood of future project failure.

Failure of project — recommended articles

Software risk — Risk of software development — Project implementation phase — Delay in project — Risk and opportunity — Cost of failure — Budget overrun — Success of the project — Construction project risk

References

• Pinto, J. K., & Mantel, S. J. (1990). The causes of project failure. IEEE transactions on engineering management, 37(4), 269-276.
• Doloi, H. (2013). Cost overruns and failure in project management: Understanding the roles of key stakeholders in construction projects. Journal of construction engineering and management, 139(3), 267-279.
• Chen, C. C., Law, C. C., & Yang, S. C. (2009). Managing Erp implementation failure: a project management perspective. IEEE transactions on engineering management, 56(1), 157-170.