MPM TÓPICOS AVANZADOS DE PROJECT MANAGEMENT Semana 5

Summary

In the fifth session of the advanced Project Management course, the focus is on rescuing projects in crisis. The session reveals that 48% of project failures stem from human issues like poor leadership and communication, while 31% are due to improper methodologies, and 21% result from strategic misalignments. Key indicators of a project at risk include stakeholder dissatisfaction, team demotivation, and unmet short-term goals. Successful project recovery involves identifying crisis origins, establishing win-win commitments, and implementing corrective actions based on the Pareto principle. The session highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and effective communication to steer projects back on track.

Takeaways

• 📉 48% of project failures are due to human issues like management, communication, and conflicts, highlighting the importance of soft skills.
• 📊 31% of failures are caused by improper use or lack of methodologies, indicating a need for proper process and practice alignment.
• 🎯 21% of project failures are due to changes in strategic objectives, leading to misalignment and project cancellations.
• ⚠️ Key signs of a project at risk include stakeholder dissatisfaction, team demotivation, repeated short-term goal failures, and trust issues within the team.
• 🚩 Other risk indicators include deliverable defects, long and unproductive work hours, and a high turnover rate within the project team.
• 🔍 Identifying the origins of the crisis is crucial, which can stem from technical difficulties, inadequate training, poor resource estimation, or planning errors.
• 🤝 Establishing win-win commitments among involved parties is essential to navigate a project out of crisis.
• 📝 Corrective actions should follow the Pareto principle, focusing on the 20% of factors causing 80% of the issues.
• 🛠️ A new action plan must be created, defining necessary resources, responsibilities, and clearly communicating it to all stakeholders.
• 📅 Frequent monitoring and risk redefinition are vital, as new plans can bring different risks that need to be addressed promptly.

Q & A

What are the main causes of project failure according to the script?

The main causes of project failure are human-related problems (48%), improper use of methodologies (31%), and changes in strategic objectives (21%).

Why do human-related problems contribute significantly to project failure?

Human-related problems contribute to project failure due to poor leadership, communication issues, and conflicts among team members, which are all related to soft skills and stakeholder management.

How does improper use of methodologies affect project success?

Improper use of methodologies affects project success by causing misalignment between the project's nature and the applied processes, leading to inconsistencies and failures in execution.

What are some signals that indicate a project is at risk of failing?

Signals indicating a project at risk include stakeholder dissatisfaction, team demotivation, repeated failure to meet short-term objectives, loss of team trust, and constant deliverable defects.

How does team demotivation impact project performance?

Team demotivation leads to low productivity, lack of high performance, and reduced commitment to project goals, ultimately affecting the overall success of the project.

What role does stakeholder satisfaction play in project success?

Stakeholder satisfaction is crucial as their dissatisfaction can lead to project derailment, loss of support, and eventual project failure if their needs and expectations are not met.

Why is it important to identify the origins of a project crisis?

Identifying the origins of a project crisis is important because it helps in understanding the root causes, whether technical, planning, or communication-related, allowing for targeted corrective actions.

What is the 'Pareto Principle' and how is it applied in project management?

The 'Pareto Principle' (80/20 rule) in project management is used to prioritize corrective actions by identifying the 20% of factors causing 80% of problems, thereby focusing efforts on the most impactful issues first.

How can a project in crisis be rescued?

A project in crisis can be rescued by identifying crisis origins, establishing win-win commitments, defining corrective actions using the Pareto Principle, creating and communicating a new action plan, and monitoring progress.

What are the characteristics of a project in crisis?

Characteristics of a project in crisis include frequent changes in scope and planning, lack of client support, internal conflicts, unassigned responsibilities, long work hours with minimal progress, and materialization of risks.