On Corporate Politics

“What obstacles do project managers face to successful completion of an Information Technology project?”

Director - IT Operations: Retail firm

The first obstacle and largest is Buy-In. You need to have an Executive Sponsor who is active and passionate about the project. Adequate Resources (Budget, Headcount, etc) would be the second. These are often under estimated to make a project look better, but in the end limit the projects ablility to be successful.

Ensure plenty of time for testing and ensure you lock down scope.

MüTō Observation:

What you point out has a touch of corporate 'politics' and the native ability of the Project Manager; Communication/Motivation/Accountability. Going up against that ornery Sponsor who’s sacrificing their own project's success for a little momentary 'boost to their ego', could be suicidal, for the PM, if not done right.

Imagine the PM that could point out to that 'short-sighted' Sponsor, that to fail at the project would be worse than to approach it correctly. Neat trick, eh? That's a PM's ability to communicate, and his ability to motivate, that comes to bear there.

On testing, and scope lock down. YES!!! It takes an involved PM to be proactive in this way. Ensuring Testing, and Scope lock down will seem like 'too much over-work' for that ornery 'Sponsor'; again, requiring the stellar communicative/motivational skills of the PM.