10 ways to improve a technology project’s success

There was a recent study published that claimed the top 500 companies lose $14 Billion annually due to failed technology projects. One of my consulting benefits is turning around failing projects to successful completion. Here are a few basic ways you can improve your results.

1. Keep your goals in focus – Projects often fail due to a focus on items other than the goal. If your focus is on delivering in a certain time frame, other aspects of the project will be compromised to meet the time frame. Set goals that focus on milestones and results, rather than time lines. This doesn’t mean the project will be in perpetual development, but it will mean the project will be successful if it needs slightly more hours to reach the goal.
2. Encourage feedback and brainstorming – A successful project is a collaboration. Solicit feedback, have debates about what is the best course of action.
3. Be flexible – Assess the situation as the project progresses. If a problem arises during one way of implementing, consider alternative methods of reaching your goal.
4. Give people a break – If your people have been working hard on the project, make sure they are encouraged to take a break to step out during the day, on weekends, or other times. Very few people do their best work non-stop.
5. Encourage collaboration – It is easy to get so focused on one way of doing something that you miss a better way. Collaboration is a great way to get a fresh perspective to solve a problem. People should be allowed to work together to improve results.
6. Communicate requirements – Discuss the overall objective of the project with team members and let them know how the project fits into the overall company. Knowing how the project contributes to the company improves the outcome more than working within a vacuum of information with no foundation or focus.
7. Be realistic – A project will require time and money as inputs to be successful. Be realistic in your expectations for time and money.
8. Don’t micromanage – Defer to employee expertise and ability to figure out the details of implementation. Micromanagement destroys the communication and collaboration you should encourage.
9. Clear other requirements – If a project is critical, make sure your people can focus on the project without distractions from other projects. Make sure it is known that other projects are low priority.
10. Facilitate resources – Provide Internet access, information, non-production test/dev systems, and other resources that are helpful to the project.