Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Common Gre Essay Topics

Ideas, Formulas and Shortcuts for Common Gre Essay Topics What Everybody Dislikes About Common Gre Essay Topics and Why In both of them, you must understand the argument, and you need to evaluate the problem of the essay. You will need to read several GRE sample essays depending on the Issue task before you find it possible to grasp the way by which your response ought to be framed in order to accomplish a great score in this test section. Essentially, issue essay is all about how you perceive the given topic. Also a reminder which you can work with me if you're searching for issue essay feedback. Writing an essay may be a daunting endeavor for the two teachers and students in terms of producing and crafting a high high quality essay, and finally editing and grading them. Just like how you can readily address a Reading Comprehension question when you have answers to those 2 questions, graders assessing your essay will also have to discover answers to these specific same questions, if you require a perfect score. The essay graders know that you simply get 30 minutes to compose each AWA essay and in addition, they know that you won't have the ability to cover every potential argument, reason and rebuttal. Students should always question what they're taught rather than accepting it passively. The first part of the essay we'll analyze is the way that it succeeds in identifying and examining the sections of the argument that are related to the job. In essence you're interpreting the info. It is possible to then practice replicating successful connections between ideas in your practice essays. It's possible that while explaining your stand, you divert from this issue and get started discussing another situation. Studying GRE an hour per day, along with whenever you get a free moment, is draining. You will get your essay scores approximately 10-15 days following your test date. You must take many different factors under consideration, if you wish to get anywhere near the ideal score. Obviously, it's one of the most significant things, but it isn't the only component. Characteristics of Common Gre Essay Topics Practice brainstorming a lot of different essay prompts from the ETS website to get accustomed to coming up with examples that you may use to support your viewpoint. If you deploy a great deal of quotations in your essay, it seems as though several people today are speaking about the topic apart from yourself. Thus, it's safe to say that 500-600 is what you ought to be looking at. Not only do you have to read through GRE sample essays, but y ou also have to look for topics on which you are able to write GRE sample essays yourself and have them evaluated. However you get ready for the essays, make sure you at least write a couple of each type before you take the actual GRE. Gre argument essay topics are constructed on the gre argument that you've got to prove. There are quite a lot of sites that can help you in evaluating your essays and also in supplying you with useful GRE sample essays. The entire text of this GRE essay sample can be located on the ETS site. If you want to know more regarding the GRE essay length, we've completed a distinct post on that. The very first point to do before you get started searching for GRE sample essays is to comprehend what the Analytical Writing test section is about. As a result, if you would like to comprehend the GRE sample essays clearly, you have to first go through these links which will offer you a fair idea of the way to prepare for this test section, what the test section contains and what all to remember whilst writing the essays. You may use our free internet GRE essay immediately. Vocabulary flashcards One good plan is to begin the day with GRE. In any event, to have a perfect score on the GRE essay, utilize an appropriate quote strategically but don't force it in the essay. Although this essay is apparently carefully organized, it doesn't adhere to the directions for the assigned task. There is, in addition, the problem of grammar. If you have the ability to reveal wonderful writing skills together with a good ability to organize, you will become definitely an ideal grade. Between grammar and fashion, grammar is quite a bit simpler to improve. Write a response in which you discuss what questions would want to get answered to be able to determine whether the recommendation will probably have the predicted outcome. The response to this question demands a survey to determine the reasons our residents use or don't use the river. Even though the response may start to tackle the assigned task, it provi des no development. A response that's uncertain or self-contradicting will damage your capacity to create cogent points, and therefore don't be scared to select something that appears glaringly wrong and run with this.

U.S. Foriegn Policy Essay Topics

U.S. Foriegn Policy Essay TopicsMost people are very familiar with U.S. government foreign policy essay topics but there are plenty of other interesting topics to write about in this area. If you are interested in writing an essay on these topics and you have the resources, you can have it professionally written for you.Some of the most popular topics for an essay on US foreign policy are outlined below. All of these topics will be presented in your learning and review outline, making them very easy to understand. The main objective is that you should spend a good amount of time looking at the US foreign policy essay topics that interest you and then focus on learning and reviewing.The first topic that is often covered in the US foreign policy essay topics is the issue of the American economy. When it comes to the economic issues that the US government has taken part in during previous years, this will give you a good place to start when you want to write an essay. You can learn abou t how the economic situation has affected the United States as a whole, as well as the US foreign policy on the economy.You can also look at how the financial and economic conditions throughout the world has affected the U.S. as a whole. This will give you a good starting point when you want to learn and review U.S. foreign policy. In order to do this effectively, you should learn and review the U.S. foriegn policy on economic conditions and how the US has handled them since the end of World War II. If you are already familiar with the various economic policies of past administrations, this will help you write an effective and compelling essay.The second topic that is often covered in U.S. foreign policy essay topics is the military. The military has played a major role in influencing the United States throughout the course of its history. Throughout the course of the last fifty years, the military has provided the United States with plenty of help in war and peace. Therefore, if yo u are writing an essay on the military and the role that it has played in shaping the U.S. as a whole, this is a good topic to begin with.Another important topic that is often covered in these essays is the U.S. stance on foreign relations. The U.S. has been at the forefront of the many foreign policies that have been developed throughout the course of the twentieth century. If you are interested in writing an essay on U.S. foreign policy, this is a good topic to start with. However, you should also spend some time looking at U.S. foriegn policy that has been implemented in countries like Cuba, Vietnam, Iran, South Africa, etc.The third of the U.S. foreign policy essay topics that are very popular is on the history of the United States. If you look at U.S. history from a historical perspective, this is an interesting topic to consider. It is especially interesting to look at how the United States has affected foreign countries throughout its history and how it has influenced the wor ld throughout the course of its existence.The fourth of the U.S. foreign policy essay topics that are very popular is on the role that the U.S. has played in advancing freedom. By learning and reviewing the major U.S. foreign policy subjects that will be presented in the learning and review outline, you will have a very strong foundation on which to base your essay. These are just four of the many topics that are commonly used in U.S. foreign policy essay topics.

Who Else Wants to Learn About Essay Writing Successful?

Who Else Wants to Learn About Essay Writing Successful? Remember that it is most significant part the essay or your assignment. The target of an opening paragraph ought to be to find the reader interested in the essay. Even though the conclusion it comes at the end of your essay it should not be seen as an afterthought. The last paragraph of the essay stipulates the conclusion. When choosing a topic for your essay, you are going to want to be certain your topic supports the sort of paper you're predicted to write. If you haven't been assigned a topic, you have a bit more work to do. Following that, you'd want to make certain you comprehend the topic. You must realize the topic and study about the subject. In fact, there are many on-line Essay writing services that will provide you proper guidance. If you're predicted to make a paper that's an overall overview, then an overall topic will suffice. Figuring out the essay prompts beforehand will let you see if additional re search is necessary. What You Must Know About Essay Writing Successful As the last paragraph is represents your very last opportunity to create your case and, being such, should adhere to an extremely rigid format. All kinds of academic papers should start from the introductory part, then you ought to have a few paragraphs of the chief body and finish your writing with the last part referred to as a conclusion. Adhering to the first instructions when you compose an essay is of crucial significance and the simplest approach to lose grades in the event of failing to achieve that. If your essay is describing a process, like how to make a huge chocolate cake, make sure your paragraphs fall in the proper order. All our writers can create one-of-a-kind and professional papers in the shortest time, which means you shouldn't fret about the deadline. The point of your essay is defined by the sort of paper you're writing. Essays are extensive writings and they should be suitably elabor ated so that your topic can be justified. The blank screen or paper facing you while drafting essay is easily the most difficult portion of the practice. Writing the college application essay can be among the most daunting sections of applying to college. For many different reasons, students cannot always complete their assignments in time or with the degree of quality they have to earn the grades they want. A student should also spend the opportunity to study. Some students become scared to begin writing. The secret to successful academic writing is a comprehension of what you are requested to write and which goal you want to accomplish. No matter the reason, if you can't compose an assignment, you've got to discover a way out of your panic. The very best part is that it is possible to benefit! You have the chance to present clear particulars about your assignment wants and areas you will need assistance with. Since essays usually constitute an important portion of the last grade, it's important to write them well. It's imperative that you learn early on how best to compose effective essays that communicate clearly and accomplish certain objectives. Most essays can be made better by a comprehensive edit. In addition, you may read decent scholarship essays examples. If you tell yourself I would like to find a person to compose my essay cheap'' then you came to the correct place! It helps to keep the reader informed regarding the maturation of the argument. When writing, it is a whole lot more effective to display your reader the idea you're attempting to convey, in place of simply telling them. The author starts with a rather comprehensive story of an event or description of an individual or place. Essay Writing Successful Secrets You see, the conventions of English essays are somewhat more formulaic than you may think and, in various ways, it can be as easy as counting to five. There are a lot of forms of essays, it isn't hard to get rid of an eye on all your writing assignments. Even the most well-known examples need context. In here you'll see examples on various subjects in some specific formatting styles and of distinct kinds of essays. Participation is a fantastic opportunity by itself. Essay is various ideas and ideas. Utilizing personal experiences is frequently a superior idea. Sometimes students receive a low score since they don't cover the topic to the fullest. Essay Writing Successful - Is it a Scam? To begin with, one ought to be certain they are organized. Writing quality essays is the principal use of our services. It's possible to always reach out to your writer to give additional information or request information concerning the order's progress. Successful men and women have principles that maynot be compromised. Plan your time during writing, and that means you'd never appear in a circumstance when you are going to have to create the entire work at the previous night. Successful mea ns having the ability to comprehend what's important to you. The Hidden Truth About Essay Writing Successful Whether you're stuck with your paper or don't have the opportunity to devote to your assignment, our crew of writers is always here to aid you. While an essay is a big project, there are numerous steps a student can take which will help break down the task into manageable pieces. Whenever the writer is appointed, they begin working on your essay based on the requirements you have specified in your purchase. Our talented writers can deal with nearly every sort of writing assignment, in addition to Math and Physics difficulties and a lot more. The Rise of Essay Writing Successful A trusted essay writing service will use information you provide to guarantee you obtain content written from scratch that satisfies your needs. After you are finished with research procedure, start thinking creatively about the subject and make notes or pointers, which can help you during docu mentation approach. Even when you're requested to portray your ideas at most, it's recommended that you should start looking for more data on the net too. You may even start looking for ideas on the world wide web but your ideas will define you.

Why Students Need Sample Expository Essay Prompts

Why Students Need Sample Expository Essay PromptsIn the information age, many college students rely on sample expository essay prompts. Instead of having to write a lengthy essay of their own, they are given tips and suggestions on how to write the most compelling, informative and professional essays possible. These samples are chosen by various experts in their field for educational purposes.Most college students can benefit from these samples as they begin their academic journey. They are often taken from other professors at their university or college and used to help them determine which essay prompt would best suit their student. Through this, the student can utilize these prompts to ensure that their essay is well-written and devoid of any mistakes or grammatical errors.Most students cannot afford to go through the pain of writing a great essay from scratch because they simply do not have the time. That is why the samples that are available online make it possible for them to h ave something they can use without having to worry about the same issues that plague those who have written original work. Through these prompt samples, students can start writing as soon as possible after their professor assigns them a paper.These sample expository essays will be helpful to new writers and seasoned writers alike. Even those with little to no writing experience can benefit from the practice they receive from these samples. The biggest benefit is for writers who may be struggling with specific parts of their writing.A writer may feel they could never finish a particular piece. But with the help of the sample, the writer can decide if what they had written was something that was good enough to share with the class. For many individuals, this will allow them to feel better about the finished product.Writing can be fun, especially when one is enjoying the process. These prompts provide a way for students to get started on the process without having to worry about writin g a novel in one's sleep. Through using these prompts, students can pick and choose which parts of their essay to focus on.There are a number of different approaches to get started. For example, some suggest writing an outline of the essay first, then reading and editing it. Others want to read through the piece first, then give a brief explanation on what they learned from it.They can also decide if they want to begin writing from a pre-planned outline, just taking notes or even write their own unique experience based on an experience they have had or witnessed. It is important to remember that the writer has the final say on what is written.

Project Management Failure Essay Example

Project Management Failure Paper PROJECT MANAGEMENT FAILURE: MAIN CAUSES by Soraya J. NetoAlvarez A Graduate Research Report Submitted for INSS 690 In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science in Management Information Systems ` Bowie State University Maryland in Europe March 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES CHAPTER I LITERATURE REVIEW Understanding Failure The Systems Failure Method II METHODOLOGY Sample Selection Procedure Limitations III PROJECT MANAGER (PM) CHALLENGES Managing People The Organizational Challenge Lack of Resources Lack of Clear Vision and Objectives Lack of Training Project Size Lack of User Involvement IV ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION V CONCLUSION RERERENCES APPENDICES A. Interview Protocol 1 1,2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5,6 7,8 9 9,10 10,11 11,12 12,13 13-15 16 17 18 18 iii iv II ABSTRACT In the business world, â€Å"problems† can be looked as opportunities to improve the processes that contribute to business objectives. Information Systems and Technology (IS/IT) play a very important role in the daily operations of most businesses; hence, the development of such systems has become very important. There are well known models designed to guide Project Managers throughout the development and successful completion of these projects. However, many IS/IT projects continue being reported as â€Å"failures†. We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Studies suggest that a great deal of responsibility lies on Project Managers who need to focus on their interpersonal skills to get people to accomplish the work. Nevertheless, technical skills play a very important role in project development; learning from hard lessons can avoid repeating mistakes as well as developing tools for analyzing, predicting, and taking actions to prevent failure. III LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES Page Chart 1 – Major Causes of Project Failure Chart 2 – General Dynamics Partial Organizational Structure Chart 3 – Success by Project Size Table 1 – Common Causes for Project Failure 6 8 12 13 IV CHAPTER ONE LITERATURE REVIEW Information systems projects continue to fail at an alarming rate, according to a 2001 Standish Group study; only 16% of all projects are fully successful, 84% fail. Failed IT projects cost US companies an estimated $145 Billion per year causing serious business problems. Many research studies have been conducted to determine the reasons for project management failure. Project Managers (PMs) are usually held responsible for the success or failure of their projects; therefore, most studies revolve around PMs skills. The development and design of a project requires skills that range from soft people skills to sophisticated technical skills. This study looks at the main reasons for project failure, and analyzes whether they pertain to soft or hard skills. Before discussing the reason for project failure, it is important to define â€Å"failure† in the context of project management. Understanding Failure Failure does not always have to be negative; it can be a positive experience if the procedures involved in the failure are analyzed and corrected. If one does something always right, there is no opportunity for learning. Failure gives opportunity for learning from previous mistakes; therefore, improving the decision making process. â€Å"When one does something right, one only confirms what is already known: how to do it. A mistake is an indicator of a gap in one’s knowledge. Learning takes place when a mistake is identified, its procedures are identified and it is corrected† (Ackoff 1994). The idea is to take advantage of the failure and turn the negative feeling around by analyzing what went wrong and 1 correcting it for future times. In project management, a project is onsidered â€Å"failure† when results don’t match initial objectives; common reasons for project failure are budget overruns and time overruns. Understanding why projects are not completed on time and/or go over budget can help correct the problem. For instance, a recent study conducted by Spikes Cavell (Lytinen 1999) shows that a successful practice to overcome time overruns is implementing meeting miles tones. Analyzing failure is not always that intuitive, so PMs are starting to apply the system failures method to information systems analysis to prevent project failures. The Systems Failure Method The aim of the Failures Method is to investigate some identified failure to learn what aspects of the situation may have led to the failure occurring. The investigation consists of comparing â€Å"ideal† models against the real-life failure situation. This comparison is expected to reveal discrepancies between the two, highlighting areas of concern. These discrepancies can then be interpreted in relation to the failure situation and conclusions can be drawn. (West 1998) Investigating whether failures can be avoided, or reduced by some degree, is certainly a worthwhile effort. Studies suggest that most IS project disasters are avoidable (Heekens 2002). Many times, warning signals occur long before an information systems project has begun to fail. History has shown that software projects are far more likely to be successful if they are highly focused and built upon well-understood technology (Heekens 2002). 2 CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY This study was designed to identify the main causes for project failure. Interviews with Project Managers from General Dynamics Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO) were conducted. Data gathered from interviews was analyzed and corroborated with previous surveys and case studies on project failure. Sample Selection In order to find out common reasons for IS/IT projects failure, Project Managers from the SIMO office were interviewed. Participants were composed from a diverse socioeconomic background including Black, Hispanic, and White. Their ages ranged from 30 – 55 years old. Each participant had at least five or more year’s experience in his or her profession. Procedure The interviews took place during August – September 2002. The interviews were conducted in person during lunch breaks. Project Managers were given a survey (shown in Appendix A), and asked to list the main reasons for project management failure. Later individual appointments were scheduled to discuss answers in more detail. Results were then combined and analyzed. A table containing the most frequent causes for project failure was produced (See Table 1 Discussion Section). The table serves as a discussion tool, and it shows the type of skills (soft or hard) related to the reason for failure. Common reasons for project management failure are discussed and analyzed in detail. Discussion points are reinforced with statistical data. Limitations Unfortunately General Dynamics does not require Project Managers to have any type of formal Project Management training, so most PMs have little knowledge of Project development techniques and models. General Dynamics’ main customer is the US Armed Forces; therefore some requirements are unique. A larger sample is required to include other companies that have customers from different industries. Farther research could include companies from other countries as well. 4 CHAPTER THREE PROJECT MANAGER (PM) CHALLENGES Managing people Managing a project is not just about accomplishing tasks, but getting people to accomplish the work. One of the major challenges for a Project Manager (PM) is managing people. Most Project Managers have the technical skills required to manage a particular project, but not everyone has the interpersonal skills required to manage people successfully. A PM has to communicate with people inside and outside the organization, and be able to speak their languages. When dealing with top management and stakeholders, the PM should address how the system will contribute to business objectives, and highlight initial investment and return on investments figures. They want to hear the project in terms of profits to the company. Their reason for launching a project is to make money or to save money, so the PM should focus on the financial aspect of the project. When dealing with team members, the PM is esponsible for fostering teamwork. Usually the team consists of people from different departments who have their own priorities, and departmental interests. The PM faces the challenge of getting team members to share a common objective and focus on what is best for the project itself and not each individual department. For a project to be successful, everyone should pull in the same direction and towards the same vision. According to Fortune (1 997) â€Å"You don’t get people to buy into a vision, you get them to enroll†. Once again, it is on the 5 PM to inspire team members to take ownership of the project and do their best to lead the project to a successful completion. When dealing with engineers, scientists, and computer experts, it is crucial for the PM to remain focused on the business objectives. It is very easy to lean towards the state of the art technology, even if it does not add value to the business. The PM has to look at the system technology from the business perspective. If it does not contribute to the efficiency of business processes, there is no need to spend the extra money. In 1998, the French computer manufacturer and systems integrator, BULL, contracted an independent research company to conduct a survey in the UK to identify the major causes of IT project failure in the finance sector (Linberg 1999). Interestingly enough the survey reveals the major causes of project failure during the lifecycle of the project are a breakdown in communications (57%), a lack of planning (39%) and poor quality control (35%). See Chart 1. Chart 1 6 The Organizational Challenge Most companies have some type of hierarchical organization, which may undermine the authority of Project Managers (PMs). For instance, having PMs report to a section leader, who is under a team chief who reports to a department manager who also reports to someone higher, may delay communication among team members from different departments. Ideally, PMs should be able to control the company’s resources needed to accomplish their projects, and directly supervise their teams. Unfortunately, in the real world PMs have little or no authority, so they have to rely on the official process for communicating their needs across the organization. This cross-organizational communication can result in delaying project tasks, which can ultimately bring the project to failure. The field study conducted in the General Dynamics Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO), Project Managers were asked to give the most common reasons for project failure. Survey results indicated that 75 percent of Project Managers are unhappy with the current structure of the company, and list it as the top reason for not accomplishing their projects on time. General Dynamics is broken down into departments; each department has its own manager, and the department is further broken down into sections managed by section supervisors. See Chart 2. 7 Site Manager IT Manager Engineers Dept. Training Division Personnel Manager Acquisitions Systems Integration Office Chief Project Manager Project Manager Project Manager Project Manager Chart 2 General Dynamics Partial Organization Structure The System Integration Management Office (SIMO) has a team chief who is responsible for communicating with other sections and departments. When interviewed Project Managers pointed out the inefficiency of going through the team chief to coordinate tasks with other departments. As Project Managers, they believe that a flat organization would be the ideal because they would have the authority to contact other key players themselves. By coordinating the tasks themselves, they increase the accuracy of the information, and make changes in the schedule as needed. More than 50 percent of General Dynamics Project Managers attribute the success of their projects to the good personal relationships at work. In most cases, they don’t follow official communication channels. They establish good relationships with people from other departments, and approach them directly whenever they need to get the job done. This shows the importance of good interpersonal skills, but also reiterates the need for an organization structure that facilitates communication across the company. Lack of Resources Project managers face the challenge of coordinating the use of valuable resources when other people seem to have higher priorities. Not having control 8 ver resources can cause the project to fall behind schedule and subsequently to fail. A survey conducted by IT Cortex (Lytinen 1999), on â€Å"Reasons for Project Impaired Factors† conducted among 365 IT managers from companies of various size and in various economic sectors showed that lack of resources is one of the main reasons for project failure followed by lack of executive support. It is interesting to point out that lack of IT manag ement and technology illiteracy was at the bottom of the list, showing soft skills superceding technical skills. When competing for resources it is important to document the days and times resources are available, and try to accommodate the needs of the project during these times. Organizational skills play a very important role in managing resources successfully. Lack of Clear Vision and Objectives Not understanding the true needs of the company can prompt supervisors and project mangers to jump to a quick solution, decreasing the chances for selecting the best solution. Solution jumping can take place in the department where the problem/opportunity is identified, or by the Project Manager himself/herself. An example of a department jumping-solution is when instead of describing the problem, a solution is drafted and turned into a project requirement. For instance in a manufacturing company, the head of the production department requests to start up a project for the creation of an additional production line to meet customers’ demands. Once the PM starts identifying the true needs, he/she realizes that the real problem lies in the existing production lines that are not performing at optimal levels. In this case, 9 the real need and perhaps the best solution to the problem is to focus on the other production lines first. Sometimes the PM feels the pressure to get the project started right away without understanding the true needs of the company. Without this true understanding, it is very difficult to select the best solution to the problem. General Dynamics ensures its PM’s are familiar with the company’s needs by holding weekly meetings to discuss and debate new and ongoing projects, increasing the odds for selecting the best solution, and keeping projects on schedule (Heekens 2002). Banco Itamarati, a privately held Brazilian bank, attributes the success of its IT project to clear vision and documented specific objectives. The company produced an annual net profit growth of 51% and moved from 47the to 15th place in the Brazilian banking industry (West 1998). Lack of Training – The â€Å"Accidental Project Manager† Phenomenon Researchers at Athabasca University’s Centre for Innovative Management in Alberta, Canada, conducted a global online study on project failure. As part of the study, a large-scale online survey was posted to key websites on the Internet and distributed via e-mail to 40,000 executives, project personnel, and consultants involved in managing or directing public and private sector projects. The researchers received 3,156 responses (7. % response rate). Results indicated that project failure dominates all sectors, and more than half of PMs have little or no formal training to deal with the complexities of today’s projects. (Res 2001) In addition, the study indicated that company executives continue to underfund project management; they view the job of a Proje ct Management as 10 an add-on to an employee’s job description, thus creating â€Å"Accidental Project Managers. † Furthermore, 75 percent reported that projects consistently came in late and over budget, and that management tools, techniques, and methodologies were rarely applied to projects. Project Size A research study conducted by the Standish Group in shows that small projects are more likely to succeed than large projects. Typically, as project size increases, cost increases as well, and its chances of success decreases. Extra features and functions may decrease the likelihood of success. Results show that projects costing less than $750 K had a success rate of 55% while projects budgeted over $6M were successful only 8% of the time (See Chart 3). Some IS projects should be segmented into smaller subprojects to increase the likelihood of success. Pilots can be used in this case as relatively inexpensive methods to provide a â€Å"proof of concept† for an application before additional resources are allocated. This is especially useful when it comes to the use of new technology. One of the biggest mistakes a company can make is using a new technology on a highly visible and large project. A $100 million project should not be started with any technology unless a $10 million project has used it first, and a $10 million project should not be conducted until a $1million project has been completed (Glass 1998). New technology is notorious for having software bugs. Big projects should be broken down into small, low visibility projects, where problems are easier to address before it is unleashed on a larger project. 11 Success by Project Size Over $10M $6M to $10M $3M to $6M $1. 5M to $3M $750K to $ 1. 5M Less than $750K 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 0% 8% 15% 25% 33% 55% 60% Chart 3 Lack of User Involvement A Standish Group survey (2001) shows user involvement as the number one reason for successful projects followed by executive management support, and a clear statement of requirements. One of the participants in this survey was the IT executive manager from a Hyatt Hotel. Hyatt implemented a system that allows customers to dial from a cellular airplane telephone at 35,000 feet, and check into your Hyatt room, schedule the courtesy bus for pick up, and have the keys to the room waiting at the express desk. This new reservation system was ahead of schedule, under budget, with extra features. Hyatt had all the right ingredients for success starting with user involvement, management support, clear requirements, proper planning, and small project milestones. 12 CHAPTER FOUR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION The results of compiling the main reasons for project failure from different surveys and case studies are hown in Table 1. Although no percentages are shown, the reasons are prioritized from most common to less common. It is also indicated whether they pertain to soft skills or technical knowledge. As shown in Table 1, the top two most common reasons for failure pertain to soft skills (lack of user involvement, and lack of management support), but there is also a good balance of soft skills and technical knowledge. This shows that both are important, and one cannot focus just on the soft skills or the technical knowledge. Managing projects is not all science. Project management involves working with people, and getting people to accomplish the work. Common Reasons for Failure Lack of User Involvement Organizational Structure/Lack of Mgmt Support Lack of clear vision Unable to Manage Team Unable to Cope with Project Size Lack of Training Lack of Resources X X X X X Soft Skills X X X Technical Knowledge Table 1 Common Causes for Project Failure From Most Common to Less Common 13 Lack of user involvement deals mainly with soft skills because the Project Manager needs to schedule appointments to interview users, and get them to buy into the project. Sometimes project mangers can face resistance from users who do not like change. PMs have to use their interpersonal skills to assure users that they will benefit from the new system. In addition, it is important to make the users feel they are part of the project and their input is highly valuable for the overall success of the project. Organizational structure/lack of management support also deals with soft skills because Project Managers need to adjust to the company structure, and be able to find effective channels of communication. In order to get all the key players involved, project mangers need top management support to schedule meetings, and to use the company’s resources. Lack of clear vision deals more with critical and analytical skills; the Project Manager is expected to understand project requirements, and convey these to the rest of the team. It is important to grasp the true needs of the company and to ensure that the project meets the business objectives. Unable to manage team deals with soft skills since Project Managers are in charge of getting the teams together and motivating every member to excel within the project. Unable to cope with project size deals with technical knowledge and the ability to break complicated tasks into smaller manageable modules. Complex projects can be compared to math problems; solving complicated math problems requires breaking the problem down into small pieces, and solving it step-by-step. 14 Lack of training deals mainly with technical knowledge; Project Managers need to understand different models used for developing and designing systems; recurrent training is also important due to fast technological advances; knowledge of management tools is necessary to facilitate planning and tracking of project tasks. Lack of resources can require both soft skills and knowledge of the systems. Competing for resources requires coordination with other users. This coordination can be accomplished by communicating the project needs well in advance. Scheduling resources also requires technical knowledge to know which resources are needed and when they can afford to go offline without inconveniencing other users. 15 CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION A Project Manager is like a bridge that links key pieces together, and in order to reach pieces effectively he/she needs to have a balance of soft skills and technical knowledge. Some pieces need to be handled with soft skills, especially those that depend heavily on people to accomplish the work. Other pieces need to be addressed logically and precisely, such as instructions given to programmers and engineers for system implementation. Project Managers need to be able to learn quickly and become familiar with the needs of the company and the business objectives. It is important for a Project Manager to keep a positive attitude even when projects fail or are cancelled. Failure should be seen as an opportunity to learn what went wrong and could go wrong again if not corrected. Project failure can ultimately lead to success if it provides insight, and encourages learning. According to an article in the Journal of Systems and Software (Lingberg 1999), struggle and challenge are part of the learning process. Many organizations have used an IS project failure as a method to improve the next version of software or on a completely different project. The key point to be made with this notion is: if you lose with an IS project, do not lose the lesson. Not every IS failure can be labeled as a â€Å"failure†, especially if lessons can be learned and applied. 6 REFERENCES Ackoff, R. L. , 1994, It’s a Mistake! Systems Practice, 7, 3-7. Fortune, J. , Peters, G. (1997). Learning from Failure: The Systems Approach John Wiley Sons, Inc. Heerkens, G. R. (2002). Project Management. New York: McGraw-Hill Lytinen, K. Robey, D. (1999). Learning Failure in Information Systems Development: Info Systems J. 9, 85-101 Linberg, K. (1999). Software Developer Perception s about Software Project Failure: a case study: Journal of Systems and Software, 49(2-3), 177-192 Parker, W. (2003). WorkStart Net: The Eight Keys to Project Management Failure. Retrieved March 2003, from WorkStar Web site: http://www. workstar. net/library/pm1. htm Results of World’s Largest Study on Project Management: Athabasca University Study Indicates High Rate on Project Failure and Accidental Managers in Today’s Organizations. (2001). Retrieved December 15, 2002, from Athabasca University Web site: http://www. athabascau. ca/media/mba_pm. html Ross, J. , Weill, P. (2002). Six IT Decisions Your IT People Shouldn’t Make: Harvard Business Review, 80(11), 85-91. Satzinger J. , Jackson, R. , Burd S. (2000). Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World. Course Technology MA. Spot Light on PM Training: Global Study Cites Problem of â€Å"Accidental† Managers. (2001, December). PM Network: Project Manager, 15 (12), 8 The Standish Group Report Retrieved December 2002, from http://www. scs. carleton. ca/~beau/PM/Standish-Report. html West, D. (1998) The systems Failure Method and its Potential Use in Information Systems Analysis: Computing and Information Systems, 5, 135-38. Wiegers, K. (2003). Know Your Enemy: Software Risk Management. 1-9. 17 Appendix A Interview Protocol Project: Reasons for IS/IT Project Failure Time of Interview: Date: Interviewer: Interviewee: (Description of Project) Questions: 1. What is your professional background as Project Manager? 2. What is your educational background? 3. How many projects are you currently managing? 4. List the project management models/methods that you use to manage your projects 5. List the major challenges that you face as Project Manager to successfully complete your project. 18