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In project/program management., organizations like PMI (and others) may give the impression that they (and their certifications like PMP) are the best thing on earth that will solve all the issues and problems in this challenging practice. If it was so, and the same talk applies to other organizations and other designations in project/program management, then why .1- We still have alarming rate of failing projects (reaches75% or higher) ??2- Some (or the majority of PMP certified individuals) do a very lousy job in project and program management ?? I would even say the same when I see Microsoft certified engineer (MSCE) who cannot even install a new Windows system with office and LAN/Internet/Printer connectivity !! I even doubt some of them got the certification without even touching a computer (except for the keyboard and the mouse) !!
PMI, PgMP, Prince II are standards and they recommend best practices. Project Managers need to tailor these recommedations based on their Project needs, and apply these to effectively manage their projects. Unfortunately, many company's recognized PMP, PgMP, Prince II but somehow they do not adhere to the standards recommended by these.
To stay ahead in the competition, company's sometimes accept projects that have infeasibile objectives, or agree to a aggressive deadlines and end up either delivering poor quality work, unable to meet quality standards, or going above the planned budget, etc which are some of the sources of project failures...
These are just tools and the result of thier usage can only be as good as the goddness of thier users. Good tools + effective usage = success, otherwise failure is inevitable and quicker.
All these Project Management Standards provide Benchmarking Standards for a Project . Besides, the success of the project is attibuted to the various people at various levels in the Organization. A standard can be practiced , referred ,followed or ignored , depending on the Practices specific to an Organization.
Perhaps , these Standards actually define BEST PRACTICES to make a project successful and the standard by itself never guarantees success of the Project. But, these standards when practiced in project defintely minimizes the chances of Project failure
These systems are great tools to support a project manager in successfully completeing his/her job.The real problem is that you may disguise a donkey as a racing horse but it will never win a real race. This may sound harsh and brutal but it is nevertheless the truth.
Having a diploma will tell you - in fact - only one thing and that is that the person holding it has passed the required tests (somehow). Some did this by learning others may have cheated their way through the exam. This is also harsh but also the truth.
What you need to successfully complete a project is a person who is actually skilled and capable to do the job right and this is where the problem starts: How can you find such a person amongst all the many applicants for a job?
The only way would be to really deal with the applicants and to sieve the good ones from the wanna-be managers. This takes time and time is scarce for HR managers. So they have to rely an the "second best" way to find out (or so they believe), by checking diplomas and asking you if you have the piece of paper claiming a specific skill or knowledge. And here the vicious circle is complete (pardon my dramatic picture).
Basically projects fail because the wrong people have been hired to do a job that they are not capable of completing. It has nothing to do PMP/PMI or Price II apart from the sad fact that these systems are now used to find a way around solid HR judgement by pretending to save them some time.
Only: Time equals money wasted on hiring the wrong people for the job.
Harsh, you say?
Aye, but true - I reply.
Iam not talking about individual cases here and there, I am talking about a global phenomenon here that worldwide75% or more of all projects fail despite PMI/PMP efforts, certifications, tools .. etc .
Iam asking for a brainstorming exercise about the reasons for this high percentage of project failures @@@ and what can be done about it !!!!
In my opinion projects fail because standards are kept only on the papers. I have observed while working on some of the mega projects that when it comes to meet the deadlines all the standards and project management methodologies are bypassed. Consequently projects become over budgeted and delayed because of time and resources required to rectify poor quality of works completed in haste in first place to meet deadline.
If a project fails its the complete responsibility of the project manager and the technical lead. For a project to be sucessfull you need to have right people in right places and right tracking system.
To appoint an engineer to do the job you need to hire a engineer just not looking at his certifications.You need to interview him properly, you to understand his strong and weak areas ,his experience and maturity level.
Testing is required before you actually start implementing or proceeding with changes on the network. You need to document the steps that engineers are required to perform and time taken but the engineer to perform the activity. Every change being implemented should be validated before proceeding ahead.
Lot is study is required to make the project sucessfull and its all depends on the framework you follow.
Mister Mohammad Tohamy Hussein Hussein, How you have described it is the best way to explain it.
If PMI/PMP and Prince II are so good, why do projects still fail ?
There are various answers fo this question:
a. PMI / PMP and Prince II:- gives you the guidance for the methodology for working the project. The failure is caused by:
1: Either incorrect estimation for the cost of the project and not estimating contingency for the daily inreases in costs fo materials and technology.
2.: The business units keep changing their requirements after costing and budget agreement following submission of Busines Case.
3. SMT's decides to cut the budget.
With regards to Microsoft certified engineer (MSCE) who cannot install a new Windows system with office and LAN/Internet/Printer connectivity. Again there could be several reasons and factors:
i. The software could be faulty.
ii. The hardare could be faulty.
iii. The Hardware equipment not connecting to the server. Most organisation now a days is using server based OS to save on licensing costs.
It is not easy to obtain MSCE certification without appropriate training and learning.
Not in all projects the tools & techniques are adequately applied. Are the failings referred within project phase or post delivery? Some projects do succeed yet they soon fail operationally for many reasons, some would relate the project phase and inadequate transitions.
