Would you like your project problems – fixed with PRINCE2 7th Edition?
Unfortunately, project failure is everywhere, either the entire project failing or some aspect of its deliverables, and typically these failures result in overspending and coming in late. The statistics of failed projects are quite alarming, and much focus has been made since the 1990s on rejuvenating how projects are run and managed.
Powerful tools are needed to remedy project failure. The rise of methodologies such as PRINCE2 has helped spearhead improvement, but only if they are applied and tailored practically.
The main causes of project failure are well documented and knowing where the key killers lie is a good place to start and will help provide part of the solution.
Project Problems fixed with PRINCE2 7
PRINCE2 7 identifies that there are seven variables involved in any project;
- cost or budget
- timescales or schedule
- quality
- scope
- risk
- benefits
- sustainability
It is vital therefore that the project manager clearly understands the purpose of the project and how it will enable benefit delivery and hence investment.
Although not an exhaustive list, the following areas are certainly among the top 10 project killers:
Project Problems – Poor planning
This can either mean little or no planning or a misunderstanding of the elements that are contained within a plan. A plan should contain ‘how-to’ strategies and go on to embed these within the plan itself.
Another set of problems here is that the plan only contains task-specific activities, fails to identify deliverables, and does not include management, monitoring, and control activities.
Project Problems – Lack of objectives
This is often misunderstood (and why they are so frequently in error). The whole purpose of carrying out a project is to achieve objectives. An objective is;
- Something toward which work is to be directed
- A strategic position to be attained
- A purpose to be achieved
- A result to be obtained
- A product to be produced
- A service to be performed
Project Problems – Unclear scope
This is defined as the sum of the products, services, and results to be provided by the project. The project scope needs to be defined, developed, and verified.
Losing control of the project scope will lead to the project developing an incomplete plan, and this in turn will cause the project to get behind schedule and to over-run its budget.
Project Problems – Unrealistic budget
The most common problem here is that senior management start by setting a budget without fully understanding what the project needs to achieve. The project manager is then asked to plan and deliver the project with insufficient resources.
Project Problems – Unrealistic resources
Even assuming that the delivery organization fully understands the size and scope of the project, very often a project is restricted by the number of available resources. Resources include people, materials, equipment, facilities, goods and services, and tools.
The problems here are often not enough staff available, staff having to work and share their time on other projects, lack of staff knowledge, skills, and experience, or simply that the project was much larger than was first thought (another example of unclear scope).
Project Problems – Poor risk management
Risk management is a continuous activity throughout the whole of the project, and needs to start by identifying all risks and developing appropriate responses. The risk environments for a given project should be owned by everyone and not just the project manager.
As a consequence of poor risk management, one or more of the project objectives are now under threat, then this situation could have been foreseen, controlled, or even prevented.
Project Problems – Lack of a business case
Very often projects are started simply because senior management has agreed that it should be done without first ensuring that there was a reasonable balance between cost, risk, and benefits.
Project Problems – Poor communications
This problem usually starts because the project team and key stakeholders have no understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities, and as a consequence, no one knows what they are supposed to be doing, relation report to, and who has the authority to make decisions.
Project Problems – Lack of progress control
Without a realistic plan, they can be no control. But assuming the plan is OK, progress control needs the right information at the right time to compare progress against such a plan so that corrective action can be taken. Without this, the project is sure to go off track.
Project Problems – Scope creep
Usually caused by a lack of change control resolving the impact of many small uncontrolled changes causing the project to fail. All changes should be agreed upon and be worth the effort, time, and cost.
You can see in this article that I have spent most of the time advising where the problems lie and the reasons behind why so many projects fail. I could give a simple answer here and say that PRINCE2 has all the mechanisms to fix all the above if it is applied flexibly and tailored correctly.
All I need to say is that if you replaced the sub-headings above with the word ‘do’ or ‘carry out’ then you would have a recipe for success.
In summary, PRINCE2 will help your project be successful, it will help you to manage and deliver the project, and it will ultimately help your organization or your customers realize their business benefits and their investment in the project in the first place.
PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and Practitioner
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PRINCE2® Masterclass gives you the skills necessary to manage projects effectively and achieve your objectives.
Get 7 days a week 12 months one to one coaching with ex PRINCE2 examiner Dave Litten.
PRINCE2® is a globally recognized project management framework. By completing both the Foundation and Practitioner courses through our self-paced e-learning, you will develop an understanding of the methodology and learn how to effectively adapt it to any project.
The PRINCE2® 7 Foundation and Practitioner Masterclass is PeopleCert Accredited and guarantees to take you from PRINCE2 Novice to PRINCE2 Practitioner with our famous video learning, study guides and practice exams.
What Does the Masterclass Cover?
The PRINCE2 Foundation examination assesses your knowledge and comprehension of the PRINCE2 project management methodology as detailed in the syllabus. The PRINCE2 Practitioner examination, on the other hand, gauges your ability to apply and tailor the PRINCE2 method. Candidates who pass the Practitioner exam should be able to start implementing the method on an actual project with some guidance. However, their effectiveness may differ based on their experience in project management, the complexity of the project, and the level of support they receive in their work environment.
