The main reasons for unsuccessful projects

By

Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

Declaration

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

Abstract

Managers attain their continuing business objectives or goals through strategies. They embark on projects to apprehend these strategies. Conversely, in international businesses, no more than 2.5% of projects completely succeed. Researchers found pragmatic support that the high rate of projects' failure is for the reason that managers are not applying projects that correspond to the business strategy. Numerous researchers have postulated as to the potential effects of carrying out projects not coordinated with the strategy of business to the poor conjunction between project management and business strategies. Others accentuated the function of change as a fundamental to the endurance of the administrations. Many others stressed upon the crucial role of change management as a solution to success of the project. This research study concentrates on the conception of project management with an aim to search into the reasons for the unsuccessful projects. The study goes on to describing the idea of project scope, planning, scheduling and also looks into the other components of managing projects in an organization.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Problem Statement2

Research Aim and Scope2

Research Question3

Layout of the Report3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Introduction6

Definition7

Types8

Project Manager9

Project Team9

Project Success9

Project Failure11

Over Unsuccessful Projects14

Project failure16

Change Management19

Implementation and restriction of sources20

Losing out on planning and managing scope21

Functions of project management24

Planning25

Scope Management25

Scope Statement26

Scope Definition26

Planning Schedule27

Planning Resources27

Losing out on managing change27

A strong sponsorship29

The General Manager29

Cascading sponsorship to the organization30

Change implementation team30

CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY32

Research Philosophy32

Research Approach32

Research Strategy33

Research Methods33

Primary Data34

Semi Structured Individual Interviews34

Ethics35

Sample details36

Questionnaires36

Summary37

REFERENCES38

APPENDIX43

Interview Questionnaire43

Survey Records44

Conversation Notes46

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

This study undertakes to discuss the most important aspect of the management of projects. It performs an in-depth research on the causes and reasons of the failure of projects. The extensive literature researched in this dissertation discusses the concept of project along with the major reasons for its failure.

Background

Some firms make use of projects to execute strategy and strategic change which is commonly determined as change in strategy (Ginsberg, 1988). Initially, the term, 'projects' was utilized for the field of engineering primarily and was associated especially with the developments at the technological front. Later, the next place where the term appeared and was mostly used was the IT department where the field of Software Programming emerged and needed a refined idea of the project management methodology.

At present, an aptitude for the management of projects is required necessarily for the haphazard world of new era. The organizations which stay healthy in the new millennium are those which have effectively understood and accepted various approaches and ways to manage and implement the projects. Some experiences present that projects initially ...