5 reasons your software projects fail

by Tiffany Meyers
February 13, 2017

For developers, nothing is certain but death, taxes and projects that fail. Chip Donatone of Six Actual Software, a full life-cycle software development and advisory firm, has been keeping project teams on track for years. Having turned around too many epic fails to count, he learned the hard way so you don’t have to. Whether you create widgets or enterprise solutions, read on. Your team will thank you.

Failure to panic. That’s right. You’re not panicky enough. Instead, consider embracing the power of (strategic) pessimism, said Donatone, SVP of Engineering. For his part, he assumes that catastrophe is always just around the corner. “And it is,” he adds. “I tell teams, ‘panic early,’ so that they get in front of problems before it’s too late.”

Try this hack: Many teams use “red, yellow, green” status updates, starting with green for “on schedule.” By contrast, Donatone starts every project at yellow, denoting uncertainty. Here, teams don’t take success for granted; they work their way back to green.

Living in shoulds. When creating a time estimate, people often look at how long a project should take. Typically, that has little to do with how long it actually does. Donatone’s formula: Consider a best-case-scenario timeframe, then add 50%. “Invariably, this is the additional time you’ll need to account for unforeseen issues,” says Donatone.

Leaving stones (or tasks) unturned. During most projects, unexpected tasks and requirements seem to drop from the sky. To avoid surprises, look for gaps — not at set intervals but continually. “Our teams wring their hands over the question: ‘What did we miss?’ ” said Donatone. “They turn every stone.” Recommendation: Use a work breakdown structure. This living doc accounts for everything that needs to be done, updated in real time.

Making bad assumptions. “Bad assumptions break good software,” says Donatone. Consider a team that assumes users will interact with a product on their iPhones. When it’s later revealed that consumers will use tablets, things go downhill fast. “Make sure everyone is clear on the assumptions being made,” says Donatone. “Get those clear ASAP--and make sure everyone signs off.”

Keeping an inexperienced bench. Too many companies aim to hire more inexperienced labor on the cheap. The right talent, however, is more important than more talent. It’s critically important to pair people with the appropriate skills for the job at hand. “And experience matters,” said Donatone. “10 hard-working juniors can’t achieve the same result as one principal, who can be 10 times more productive.” If your bench is thin, consider outsourcing."

Photo via Shutterstock

Are your projects running off the rails? Six Actual Software works with companies to become their go-to development team or to augment their internal team, offering the industry’s brightest technologists. Learn more here.

 

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