Why Projects Fail and How to Succeed

Book excerpt: Douglas Fain and Mark Hunt have a combined consulting experience in the field of project management of over 50 years working for four national governments and numerous corporations and government agencies. They have consulted on over $35 Billion in major projects in over 40 countries and have taught project management in graduate programs at Stevens Institute of Technology, Denver University, and Regis University as well as corporate settings in aerospace, telecommunications, manufacturing, and others. That experience facilitated the management of large, complex projects that were in the initiation stage or facing serious performance problems. They both agree that business can no longer afford the personal and financial costs of failed projects. Neither can organizations or their project teams afford the reputation for failure that so permeates the industry today. The opportunity costs of such failures is just too great for a society that has growing needs for its citizens. This book represents their findings regarding why projects tend to fail, and as true consultants, they have also included a clear and concise set of instructions of how to avoid those failures, how to do it right the first time. This book is mandatory reading for anyone working in the field of project management, especially project managers who struggle with the responsibility for the success of their projects.