IT Projects - It's Easy to Get it Wrong but what do you need to do to get it Right?

Experience shows us that when delivering an IT project it is easy to get it wrong (as the diagram to the above attempts to illustrate humorously). Customer expectations are often mismatched to the documented project scope and are often not grounded in what is possible or even probable.




One of the first key things for a Project Manager to do is to educate the customer on the Project Management Triangle. This simple graphic is intended to illustrate to customers the trade offs between Cost, Scope and Time. In theory and in practice there is always a trade off between all three. If the project scope increases then both the time and cost would likely need to increase. If the time is compressed with the scope staying the same then likely you would need additional resources and therefore the cost increases. As it's simplest level then Project Management is the science of effectively making these decisions and trade offs between Time, Cost and Scope and getting the customer to the end state that they desire.


Over the last several years Project Management has evolved from an Art Form to a Science. These days most successful project managers are certified/ trained on project management. I myself am one of 300,000 Project Management Professionals certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI). But there are other methodologies that are equally well developed (e.g. Prince II).



The improvement in Project Management Methodology has shown a definite impact in the perceived success of projects. For example a PMI study showed that the % of projects perceived as successful increased from 12% in 1994 to 36% in 2004. One of the top three factors listed as contributing to this increased success was improved project management methodology with defined processes and procedures. Many of the established project management methodologies have very well developed processes and procedures. The map to the left shows the processes and procedures covered by PMI. Having a certified project manager is no guarantee of success but following a well established methology whichever one you choose can only help.

But aside from the theoretical I think there are several practical things a Project Management and/ or Project Director can do to ensure that his or her project is successful. One of my more favourite authors (Paul C. Tinnirello) which publishes for PMI came out with his own secrets of success for Projects which I have adopted as my own. What follows then is his Nine Factors of project Success...

1. Senior Management Commitment - Make sure they are willing to do what it takes to get the project done. Clarify your limits up front
2. Adequate Project Funding - Have you had a healthy budgeting and scoping process?
3. Well Done Requirements & Specifications - Be clear on what it in-Scope. Scope drift is the single biggest cause of failure within projects
4. Comprehensive Project Plan - You'd be surprised the number of large scale IT projects that people attempt to management with a one page spreadsheet. The more detail the better
5. Commitment of Stakeholders - Make sure the business and IT want this project.
6. Project Status Reporting - Always over communicate. Tell people when you have a problem as early as possible.
7. Critical Risk Assessment - Understand the potential failure points in your project and plan preventative actions.
8. Project Contingency Plans - Understand what happens if you can't make your schedule or your budget. Practice the Project Management Triangle with your client
9. Willingness to stay the Course - Establish early a willingness to Stay the Course on the part of the business as there will be tough times.

So in conclusion if you want my advice around how to make an IT project successful then ...

• Educate the client on the Project Management Triangle;
• Make sure you have an experienced Project Manager that is Project Management Certified and uses a well established methodology; and
• Consider the Nine Factors of Success when setting up a project.

David Goad is the Managing Director for eSavvy – Microsoft Dynamics CRM Gold Certified Partner. eSavvy is an award winning Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner staffed by some of the most experienced solution and technical architects in the Microsoft partner channel. We build and deliver relationship management solutions based on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform for large enterprises as well small and midsize businesses in Australia.