People in Projects

The Problem

Although project managers are often exceptional when it comes to executing the technical skills of requirements management, schedule planning, and tracking, we often fall short when it comes to setting proper expectations. By changing a few simple behaviors, we can greatly improve the odds of completing projects successfully.

One survey found that 10 percent of all projects are canceled because of unrealistic expectations (The Standish Group 1994). Clients will mold their own perceptions or misconceptions prior to the kickoff meeting. These can originate from a lack of software development knowledge, past experience with other similar projects, pre-established deadlines, and pre-established budgets set by senior management.