Laying the Groundwork: Preparing for IT Projects

kommit
Sep 17, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Aug 29

Are we really prepared for the journey ahead?

When companies rush to deploy new technologies, they must consider their capacities and capabilities first.

A concerning 70% to 80% of IT projects fail to meet their goals [1]. While it's commonly believed that technical skills are the main issue, operational and business factors play a bigger role. This statistic highlights the importance of preparation: assessing readiness can help avoid typical pitfalls.

In this article, we'll explore common IT project traps and what leaders should consider before adopting new technology to avoid falling into them. Our goal isn't to hold back innovation but to share insights that have helped us make smarter, less risky decisions.

The Anatomy of IT Project Failures

A kommit slide titled 'How IT projects fail,' citing a McKinsey study. It shows that 41% of IT projects exceed their budgets, 53% overrun their schedules, and 56% fail to deliver intended benefits.

When it comes to IT project failures, they're not just about unfinished projects. Failure can take many forms—missed deadlines, budget overruns, scope changes, unmet goals, or poor performance. In essence, failure is any road that doesn't lead to project success or gets there by wasting excessive resources unnecessarily.

But why do these failures occur? Let's dive into the core reasons behind cost overruns, as identified by IT executives:

Infographic titled 'Why do these failures occur?' showing top reasons for project failure: 29% Missing focus, 24% Execution issues, 20% Content issues, and two other categories at 13% each.

Undoubtedly, technical skills are only a small part of the equation. Many projects start with technical checks in place, yet face challenges due to operational issues that appear on the road ahead. The question remains: can we identify these risks early on and mitigate them from the outset? Absolutely. Let's explore how.

Preliminary Checklist: Assessing Readiness Before Starting IT Projects

Before embarking on new tech projects, we guide our clients through a few essential steps. We've found that this approach creates a solid barrier between our projects and failure. At each phase, we ask targeted questions to identify any potential setbacks. This way, we can decide whether we're ready to move forward with the project or if there are issues we need to resolve first.

Teaching
Effective training can make or break a team's success with new technology. Training should instruct employees on how to use the technology and help them understand its benefits. Resistance to change is natural, so training programs should be tailored to fit into daily routines. This allows the team to build the necessary skills and truly understand what the new technology can do for them.
Capacity
When introducing new technology, it's essential to identify who will operate it. For current employees, we must consider what tasks they'll stop doing and assess the impact of reassigning those duties. If the team is already at full capacity, we must identify the extra hands needed.
Maintenance
In the excitement of new tech, long-term costs—like maintenance—can be easily overlooked. Initial performance may be impressive, but maintenance expenses can increase over time. Budgeting for these costs from the start is crucial to avoid surprises down the line.
Time
Implementing new technology can feel daunting, especially when time equals money. Setting a clear timeline for deployment is key to managing expectations. Consider the total cost when an affordable technology takes months to become operational. Remember, reaching the whole operation doesn't always mean instant value; some technologies might take time to deliver benefits.
Service
New technology should enhance your production line or improve customer satisfaction. It's essential to evaluate its impact on our company and customers. It might be worth reframing the project if it's not delivering genuine benefits.
Service
New technology should enhance your production line or improve customer satisfaction. It's essential to evaluate its impact on our company and customers. It might be worth reframing the project if it's not delivering genuine benefits.

Successfully embarking on an IT project requires preparation that goes beyond technical skills. We can identify and address potential challenges by focusing on training, capacity, maintenance, time, and service impact early. This holistic approach dramatically reduces the risk of project failure.

Avoiding common pitfalls ensures that new technology implementations are innovative, sustainable, and beneficial in the long term. Remember, the key to success lies in asking the right questions and making informed decisions from the very start.

Written by: kommit.