IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 18

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Seven Reasons IT Projects Fail
Avoid these pitfalls to help ensure IT success
By Joseph Gulla

I

t’s interesting to explore the reasons IT projects fail. It immediately raises the converse question: Why do they succeed? Perhaps that’s the more important question. For that reason, it’s not enough to only examine reasons for an IT project’s failure but also determine what can be done to improve the chances of success on future projects.
In reviewing literature on project management, some factors emerge that influence the success or failure of a project (see “Five Areas Influencing Project Success or Failure,” page 20). By categorizing documented causes of IT project failure, a majority—54 percent—are attributed to project management. Surprisingly to some, technical challenges are the least-cited factor at 3 percent. Project management disciplines have been a part of IT for many years. So why are so many challenges still directly associated with how a

According to “Improving IT Project Outcomes by Systematically Managing and Hedging Risk,” a 2009 IDC report by Dana Wiklund and Joseph C. Pucciarelli, 25 percent of IT projects fail outright. Meanwhile, 20 to 25 percent don’t provide ROI, and up to 50 percent require material rework. Sound familiar? You’ve probably observed projects that, even if they weren’t outright failures, didn’t meet their financial objectives or required some significant rework in at least one area.

18

MARCH/APRIL 2012

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IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012

IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012
Table of Contents
Editor’s Desk: Rethinking System z
IBM Perspective: Smarter Computing, Enterprise Modernization and the Mainframe
Insider: Proper Tools Can Bring Flexibility to Application Development
IT Today: Six Things You Didn't Know About the Modern Mainframe
Trends: Seven Reasons IT Projects Fail
Cover Story: Agile Thinking: How to leverage existing technology to gain a competitive advantage
Features: All Together Now: A centralized business analytics environment delivers great value
Improving Upon the Gold Standard: System z pushes the limits of high availability
Tech Corner: Processor Design Innovations Empower the z196
Developer: Accurate Project Scoping Helps Map Out a Faster Route to Success
Solutions/Advertiser's Index: PASSPORT Host Integration Objects - LegaSuite 6
Stop Run: Mainframer Clarence Golson Reflects on a Diverse Career Built on a Single Platform
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Intro
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Cover2
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 1
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Table of Contents
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 3
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 4
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 5
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Editor’s Desk: Rethinking System z
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 7
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - IBM Perspective: Smarter Computing, Enterprise Modernization and the Mainframe
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - I1
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - I2
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - I3
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - I4
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 9
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Insider: Proper Tools Can Bring Flexibility to Application Development
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 11
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 12
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 13
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - IT Today: Six Things You Didn't Know About the Modern Mainframe
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 15
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 16
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 17
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Trends: Seven Reasons IT Projects Fail
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 19
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 20
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 21
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 22
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 23
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Cover Story: Agile Thinking: How to leverage existing technology to gain a competitive advantage
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 25
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 26
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 27
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 28
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 29
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Features: All Together Now: A centralized business analytics environment delivers great value
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 31
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 32
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 33
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Improving Upon the Gold Standard: System z pushes the limits of high availability
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 35
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 36
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 37
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 38
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 39
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Tech Corner: Processor Design Innovations Empower the z196
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - V1
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - V2
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 41
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 42
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 43
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Developer: Accurate Project Scoping Helps Map Out a Faster Route to Success
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 45
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - 46
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Solutions/Advertiser's Index: PASSPORT Host Integration Objects - LegaSuite 6
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Stop Run: Mainframer Clarence Golson Reflects on a Diverse Career Built on a Single Platform
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Cover3
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - Cover4
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - RF1
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - BG1
IBM Systems Magazine, Mainframe Edition - March/April 2012 - BG2
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