I'll start…The most valuable lesson I've learned is that a Risk that is present at the beginning of a project will not go away by itself and will only show it's ugly(ier) head again at the end of a project if not resolved. Lesson learned? Don't delude yourself into thinking that just because the project has a long timeline you can get rid of the risk later. Eliminate project risks early and often!
What valuable lesson have you learned from projects that have failed? Saving Changes...
Ken BensonProject Manager| Acxiom CorporationConway, Ar, United States
Accountability is a critical priority item. Do not let contributors continue with excuses on why they cannot meet their commitments. If you make a commmitment, you are accountable to meet it. Escalate to the management level necessary to keep the project deliverables on schedule. If this brings no return, announce the risk/issue and possible slippage early, loud and clear. Saving Changes...
Michael WoodProject Manager / Business Analyst / Business Process Improvement Guru| Independent ContractorGig Harbor, Wa, United States
How you are thought of can make a huge difference on how much support and forgiveness you might garner when things go wrong. Relationships trump Technical Prowess 9 times out of 10. Saving Changes...
Mel BostHead Project Closeout and Lessons Learned Advisory Services Practice| BOT InternationalCave Creek, Az, United States
The greatest lesson lies in capturing the Project Lesson Learned from the Significant Events that occurred in the project and make sure they lead to process improvements in those key process areas which the project affects. Too many failed projects just go by the wayside and the same issues occur over and over again in future projects without anyone doing any root cause analysis. Saving Changes...
Thomas SoamProject Manager| BDASeremban Ns, Ns, Malaysia
What Mel view was correct any projects failed should be documented as a Lesson Learned and need to do root cause analysis regarding those failure. Saving Changes...
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Good point Jennifer. We can do all sorts of analysis to find the root causes and document them well. And well, we will shelve them aside immediately after that.
The most valuable lesson I have learned from failed projects is people are not putting in enough effort to avoid the same mistakes from happening again even though they are well-informed on the root cause of the problem. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Before taking a Project we have to see the possibility, If Technology wise it is possible or not. Long Back we were part of a failed project, we have started it but logically and practilly that was not possible. Saving Changes...
Ravi AnandProject Manager| Fujitsu ConsultingPune, India
Before taking a Project we have to see the possibility, If Technology wise it is possible or not. Long Back we were part of a failed project, we have started it but logically and practilly that was not possible. Saving Changes...
Mel BostHead Project Closeout and Lessons Learned Advisory Services Practice| BOT InternationalCave Creek, Az, United States
If an active Risk Management plan was in place for the project which failed, often it is possible to tie the failure to some aspect of "risk" which was either not foreseen at the beginning of the project or for which the project team failed to act with a mitigating plan when the risk was triggered. I am in favor of having projects use Risk Management actively to guide them throughout the project and to provide candidate significant events for Lesson Learned at the end of a project. Saving Changes...
Prad DiasProject Manager| TechnologyOne CorporationMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hi Guys,
The lesson I learnt is when to say enough is enough and have the courage to make that call based on data of course. As a PM I believe we need to be able to make the hard calls and communicate the not so rosy messages to our sponsors.
Be realistic about time lines
Adjust the course as necessary
Ensure alignment by promoting a strategic view
Demand Integrity
Promote appropriate risk-taking
Be tolerant of mistakes, as learning vehicles
Encourage innovation & independence
Saving Changes...
