The Project Management Advisor: 18 Major Project Screw-ups, and How to Cut Them off at the Pass

Screw-up#1We Weren't Addressing the Right Problem

Virtually every (rational) project has at its core a need to solve some problem that is perceived by someone. Problems can manifest themselves as barriers to getting something done ("We can't possibly ship 10,000 units/week with our existing systems") or as opportunity to do something better ("We need to reduce the cost of processing purchase orders by 20%"). In any event, there is a desire to do something tomorrow that can't be achieved today.

Admittedly, some of the most fun projects that I have worked on have been the "Omigosh, we need to get this done or else" projects. I have seen the greatest clarity of purpose on projects where there was a very real and tangible consequence to not completing ...