946: Why Most Projects Fail and What to Do About it with Kory Kogon
Mar 21, 2024
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Discover why most projects fail and learn key questions to ask before starting a project. Explore the behaviors of successful unofficial project managers with tips from Kory Kogon, a project management expert. Get insights on clarifying expectations, utilizing Gantt charts, fostering team accountability, and improving communication for project success.
Clarifying expectations and definitions is crucial for project success, avoiding misunderstandings.
Unofficial project management lacks training, leading to high failure rates, emphasizing the need for structure.
Deep dives
The Importance of Clarifying Expectations
Clarifying expectations, especially the meaning of words like 'quality', is crucial for project success. By asking questions and ensuring alignment on definitions, project managers can avoid misunderstandings and ensure everyone is on the same wavelength.
The State of Unofficial Project Management
Unofficial project management is prevalent in knowledge work but lacks formal training, leading to a high project failure rate of 65%. Common reasons for failure include unclear expectations, poor communication, incorrect staffing, and scope creep, emphasizing the need for a more structured approach.
The Significance of Team Accountability
Encouraging team accountability through regular accountability sessions can enhance project success. Engaging team members in making commitments and holding each other responsible fosters shared responsibility and ensures progress alignment. By facilitating team accountability, leaders can drive engagement and project efficiency.
Utilizing Gantt Charts for Strategic Project Management
Gantt charts offer a strategic visual tool to map project tasks and identify critical paths for efficient project completion. By understanding dependencies, durations, and work hours, project managers can optimize project timelines and resource allocation. Implementing Gantt charts streamlines project management and enhances team coordination for successful project outcomes.
Kory Kogon is FranklinCovey’s vice president of Content and Senior Consultant. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling co-author of The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity, and has appeared as an expert on TODAY, MSNBC’s Your Business, Forbes.com, Inc.com, and on FastCompany.com.
She is also one of the authors of the following FranklinCovey work sessions: The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity®, Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager™, and Presentation Advantage®. Kory brings more than 25 years of business expertise, from frontline positions to an executive team member.