
Mistake 1: Absence of Alignment with Key Strategic Priorities
By Dennis McCaffertyMistake 1: Absence of Alignment with Key Strategic Priorities
The fallout: Team members/resources are pulled off for other projects. Management's time commitment is limited.
Mistake 1: Absence of Alignment with Key Strategic Priorities
The solution: Clarify strategic value of project with influential organization leaders. Prioritize accordingly.
Mistake 2: Lack of Governance/Ownership
The fallout: Issue resolution stalls. Leadership/support is missing.
Mistake 2: Lack of Governance/Ownership
The solution: Identify and assign roles of sponsorship with the C-level execs who will benefit from project.
Mistake 3: Absence of Engagement with Stakeholders
The fallout: Design takes longer than projected. Benefits don't deliver upon expectations/needs.
Mistake 3: Absence of Engagement with Stakeholders
The solution: Mutually agree to expectations and timeframes in advance. Communicate with stakeholders throughout project.
Mistake 4: Lack of Proven Approach
The fallout: Unforeseen conflicts and staffing or resource requirements surface, increasing cost of project.
Mistake 4: Lack of Proven Approach
The solution: Carefully plot unexpected factors in advance. Make sure staffing, resources, and the overall plan is flexible enough to adjust to these.
Mistake 5: Scope Creep
The fallout: Development and modifications never end. Risk of failure looms.
Mistake 5: Scope Creep
The solution: Modify only if the outcome is business critical; evaluate any modifications in terms of what impact they'll have on cost, schedule and risk.