What is Failure

            It is hard to determine what exactly failure is.  If you are looking at a black and white definition of what failure is and what success is then you would also have to determine the conditions of success.  The definitions of success and failure tend to be fluid from project to project and may even be altered while the project is being produced.

            To me failure would be not meeting the goals that are determined to be success.  There can also be a more personal definition of what your goal accomplishes for the project.  A project can be successful but you can still consider your own role a failure.  Each person’s definition of failure will also vary.

Why Projects Fail

            The success of a project relies on many factors.  Some of these factors include lack of documentation, inadequate stake holder/sponsor involvement, inadequate core team involvement, lack of required skills, unclear role definitions, alteration of scope, lack of quality, risks managed improperly, and deviation from the initial project plan.  Any one or combination of these aspects has the potential to cause a project to fail.

            Documentation is an important yet all too often over looked part of a project.  Documentation allows team members, managers, stake holders, and sponsors to agree upon what is to be accomplished by the project.  It also enables new team members to join in the project by looking over the documentation.

            To complete the documentation to the satisfaction of all involved there must be interaction between all parties.  It is essential to have the input of stake holders, sponsors, and team members throughout the duration of the project.  Being involved and being heard allows them to provide input and also promotes cooperation.

            To ensure the project is a success, the team producing the deliverables must possess the required skills.  During the planning phase of the project the skills required must be determined.  If a required skill is not present on the team, a team member must acquire the skill or an addition to the team must be made.

            The definition of roles for the team, stake holders, and sponsors is an important aspect of the project.  It ensures that each person involved will know what they are responsible for and who they are responsible too.

            A project also has the tendency to be pushed beyond the initial scope.  This can lead to increased costs or extended time frame.  Documentation helps to avoid this problem.  If additions are requested, the initial project plan can be examined to determine if it is in the scope of the project.  If it is not, it could be denied or revisions could be made to the project plan.

            The quality of a project is an important aspect.  The producing team may have one idea of the quality desired, while the stakeholders may have another perception.  To alleviate these discrepancies it is essential to include all interested parties in producing the project plan.  Within the project plan, the expected quality must be thoroughly defined.

            Risks are always associated with any project.  Any identified risk must have a management plan in place.  This allows the project to move forward if there are problems that arise during the course of production.

            Overall the best way to keep a project from failing is to include all parties in the project planning.  The project plan must be as thorough as possible.  Finally, the agreed upon plan must be followed by all parties that have signed off on it.

Craig as a Project

            While looking at me as a project of a college student there are many goals that I strive to complete.  Some of these are maintaining a respectful grade point average, learning and retaining as much material as I can, graduating, and securing a desirable position after graduation.  To accomplish these goals there are many tasks that must be completed.

            To maintain a quality grade point average, I will have to set aside the required time to study, do home work, and attended group project meetings.  As I cannot foresee the exact nature of all things to come I will estimate that this will require on average at least one hour a night while school is in session.

            To ensure that I will retain as much of the material presented I will have to set aside additional time.  This time will be used to read and re-read material, do additional research, and ask questions of matters which I cannot decipher.  I will also make time to do additional research in areas that interest me.  Once again as I cannot foresee the exact nature of things to come I will estimate an average of five hours over the period of a week spent on these activities while school is in session.

            For my goal of graduation I will need to ensure that I take all of the required classes.  This will require meetings with my counselor to choose classes.  Since registration is only once per semester I will set aside two hours per semester to conduct these meetings and work out my schedule.

            My goal of securing a desirable position after graduation will require me to gain experience in the field that I intend to enter.  I have already started this with my work with TAC.  This I devote 20 hours a week to while school is in session and up to 40 hours a week while it is not in session.  In addition to this, I will also be searching for a rewarding internship.  This I will devote a summer to, or if need be, make it work during a semester.

            If I can accomplish these goals and the associated tasks during my college career I believe that Craig as a project will be a success.