11 MIN READ

Why Do Projects Fail?

Learning How to Avoid Project Failure

We can probably all think of projects that have "failed."

We can probably all think of projects that have "failed" – perhaps processes got worse rather than better, maybe they were canceled because of cost overruns, or perhaps systems were launched with fundamental errors.

How do you know when – and why – a project has failed? In many cases, the reason for failure is obvious. However, the definition of failure isn't always clear: one project with a significant delay might be described as a failure; yet another, with a similar delay, might be seen as a stunning success.

In this article, we'll define project failure, and explore the factors that cause some projects to fail.