Michael ZiyadehContracts Negotiator Sr. | Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin CompanyBranford, Ct, United States
To what extent do you believe optimism in project planning to be the cause of project failure? Optimism can be the result of past success, lack of experience and other motivating factors. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
It is good to be optimistic but that doesn't mean that you need to be reluctant. Being optimistic is good and motivating but you need to keep monitoring & controlling properly.
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1 reply by Michael Ziyadeh
Feb 01, 2017 3:57 PM
Michael Ziyadeh
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Completely agree. Maintain the positive attitude with control. I was thinking this is similar to "trust but verify". Optimism should not replace monitoring and controlling activities which are proactive and should provide objectivity.
Being optimistic is good but being bias need to be overcome while making decision
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1 reply by Michael Ziyadeh
Feb 01, 2017 3:54 PM
Michael Ziyadeh
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I am beginning to see the pattern, thanks Anupam. The Bias may be more effectively handled than I gave credit.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Sorry but optimism is not about that, technically speaking. The Optimistic Bias is something inherent to human beings which impacts in all project estimations by 20%. So, we have to live with that and taking into account about that. Which impacts on project failure is incorrect project objectives formulation if you agree that project objectives are the factors to determine if a project failure or not.
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1 reply by Michael Ziyadeh
Feb 01, 2017 3:52 PM
Michael Ziyadeh
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Ok, so what you are saying is that because the Optimism Bias can create a 20% impact to project performance this should be managed accordingly in estimating. This may be a separate issue from meeting agreed to performance objectives which will determine success or failure. Thank you for your response.
Saving Changes...
Michael ZiyadehContracts Negotiator Sr. | Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin CompanyBranford, Ct, United States
Feb 01, 2017 3:32 PM
Replying to Sergio Luis Conte
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Sorry but optimism is not about that, technically speaking. The Optimistic Bias is something inherent to human beings which impacts in all project estimations by 20%. So, we have to live with that and taking into account about that. Which impacts on project failure is incorrect project objectives formulation if you agree that project objectives are the factors to determine if a project failure or not.
Ok, so what you are saying is that because the Optimism Bias can create a 20% impact to project performance this should be managed accordingly in estimating. This may be a separate issue from meeting agreed to performance objectives which will determine success or failure. Thank you for your response.
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Feb 01, 2017 6:37 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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We are in the same page I guess, but because my english is not good please let me clarify one point. I have discussed for years in lot of forums and inside each organization I have the opportunity to work the same thing: when you review if a project fail you will find in most of the cases that the metrics to determine if a project has failled or not are not correctly defined. In my personal experience the project objectives are defined to determine if the project has failled or not. More than that, to determine in governance sections if the project deserves to continue, to be killed, to be paused. But the key point is that people (and what is worst some project managers) define product objectives as project objectives and then it is impossible to determine the project success.
Saving Changes...
Michael ZiyadehContracts Negotiator Sr. | Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin CompanyBranford, Ct, United States
Feb 01, 2017 1:46 PM
Replying to Anupam
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Being optimistic is good but being bias need to be overcome while making decision
I am beginning to see the pattern, thanks Anupam. The Bias may be more effectively handled than I gave credit. Saving Changes...
Michael ZiyadehContracts Negotiator Sr. | Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin CompanyBranford, Ct, United States
Feb 01, 2017 1:09 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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It is good to be optimistic but that doesn't mean that you need to be reluctant. Being optimistic is good and motivating but you need to keep monitoring & controlling properly.
Completely agree. Maintain the positive attitude with control. I was thinking this is similar to "trust but verify". Optimism should not replace monitoring and controlling activities which are proactive and should provide objectivity.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Feb 01, 2017 5:14 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Many people get reluctant though and that's why projects fail.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Feb 01, 2017 3:57 PM
Replying to Michael Ziyadeh
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Completely agree. Maintain the positive attitude with control. I was thinking this is similar to "trust but verify". Optimism should not replace monitoring and controlling activities which are proactive and should provide objectivity.
Many people get reluctant though and that's why projects fail. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Feb 01, 2017 3:52 PM
Replying to Michael Ziyadeh
...
Ok, so what you are saying is that because the Optimism Bias can create a 20% impact to project performance this should be managed accordingly in estimating. This may be a separate issue from meeting agreed to performance objectives which will determine success or failure. Thank you for your response.
We are in the same page I guess, but because my english is not good please let me clarify one point. I have discussed for years in lot of forums and inside each organization I have the opportunity to work the same thing: when you review if a project fail you will find in most of the cases that the metrics to determine if a project has failled or not are not correctly defined. In my personal experience the project objectives are defined to determine if the project has failled or not. More than that, to determine in governance sections if the project deserves to continue, to be killed, to be paused. But the key point is that people (and what is worst some project managers) define product objectives as project objectives and then it is impossible to determine the project success.
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2 replies by Anupam and Michael Ziyadeh
Feb 02, 2017 7:49 AM
Anupam
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Good take aways, Sergio. Thanks
Feb 06, 2017 10:27 AM
Michael Ziyadeh
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Thank you for taking the time to clarify. You are drawing a distinction between project criteria for success and product criteria for success, is that correct? I can see your point. These two sets of criteria are separate and should be treated differently.
We are in the same page I guess, but because my english is not good please let me clarify one point. I have discussed for years in lot of forums and inside each organization I have the opportunity to work the same thing: when you review if a project fail you will find in most of the cases that the metrics to determine if a project has failled or not are not correctly defined. In my personal experience the project objectives are defined to determine if the project has failled or not. More than that, to determine in governance sections if the project deserves to continue, to be killed, to be paused. But the key point is that people (and what is worst some project managers) define product objectives as project objectives and then it is impossible to determine the project success.
Optimism might be one of the main causes to make project planning and overall project failed due to less counter measures incorporated into the detailed plan. I think we should distinguish the we-can-do-it from the we-should-do-it.
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1 reply by Michael Ziyadeh
Feb 08, 2017 10:20 AM
Michael Ziyadeh
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Well said, optimism is no substitute for proper planning.
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