Mistake 1: Absence of Alignment with Key Strategic Priorities

Mistake 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.