Project Design and Evaluation Report: Success and Failure Factors

This report provides a comprehensive overview of project design and evaluation, exploring various methodologies such as waterfall, agile, and outcome mapping. It examines the fundamental aspects of project design, including the analysis of project features, achievement criteria, and key deliverables. The report delves into different project design categories, offering examples of each, and discusses why certain project designs may fail in specific social contexts, such as those involving communication problems or corruption. Furthermore, it categorizes different types of projects, their associated products, and the appropriate design categories. The relevance of project design to both the success and failure of projects is thoroughly analyzed, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, effective communication, resource management, and organizational structure. The report concludes by highlighting the critical factors that contribute to project success and the complexities that can lead to project failure.

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Project Design And Evaluation 2
Introduction
The project itself refers to the temporary, unique and progressive trial undertaken to make
outcome, either intangible or tangible effect. Therefore, project design refers to early phase
whereby project’s basic features, criteria for achievement and main deliverables are analyzed.
Project designs with their examples
Without any doubt, an efficiently defined and strictly adhered design for keeping a project offers
a guarantee that work under progress will take place on time, stay within budget and meet client
specifications (Payne, 2016). Project methodologies must efficient to get rid of any risk and
reduce chances of failing of the project. Below, are some of the commonly used project designs
used for maintaining various project (Lahoud, 2010).
Waterfall/traditional design
Waterfall or style is a model which sequentially tackles things; starting with main concept,
planning phase to development through quality assurance, then finally project maintenance and
completion (Payne, 2016). Project essentials are apparently defined at the start of the project.
This type of methodology is commonly applicable to the projects which belong to software
large-scale (Lahoud, 2010).
Examples of waterfall/traditional design
NPI
NPI (new product introduction) is a case of the waterfall style which dwells on task certain steps.
NPI suits best groups dealing with product based products (Lahoud, 2010). Managers create
groups involved in making of new products from all companies, and this facilitates launching of
goods.

Project Design And Evaluation 3
PMI
PMI (project management institute) it’s another example of traditional design. This approach
guides the concept of knowledge of project management (Payne, 2016). Managers are influenced
to follow five steps; initiative, planning, executive stage, controlling and closure stage.
Incremental waterfall
This methodology is dependent on developing complete up requirements of a front set, designed,
and implementation in series of projects which are smaller (Katcherovski, 2017).It facilitates the
creation of releases which are mini and segment requirements into series which are incremental,
developed in an equal manner.
Spiral
The spiral methodology is part waterfall design, and its purpose is to arrange events in spiral
manner, and it applies to projects which are wide (Payne, 2016)
Feature driven development
FDD is waterfall example which deals with processes which are simple and the ones which are
defined well. Planning and execution of the project take place regarding features.
Modern methodology
Another design used is modern style. This design does not major on processes which are linear
but instead they offer the provision of alternative look (Katcherovski, 2017). Some of the modern
approaches may fit well in IT and others for development of the software, while some get
implemented during production and improvement of the process. These methods use models
which are not the same in the process of management (McConnel, 2017).
Examples of modern approach

Project Design And Evaluation 4
Critical path method
CPM examines parts of the project which are very critical. Furthermore, it shows sequences of
activities and duration each sequence takes (Katcherovski, 2017). Its importance is on showing
period required for completion of the task. (McConnel, 2017).
CCPM
Critical chain project management entails the way of planning, implementing and analyzing of
different work kinds in both multi-project and unique environments (McConnel, 2017). It
combines like two projects together.
Six Sigma
Six Sigma ensures there is accuracy and speeds up implementation process by minimizing or
eliminating waste. Therefore six sigma helps on the utilization of the allocated resources and
funds. (McConnel, 2017).
Lean PM
This approach allows a company to create values which are high to their consumers and facilitate
utilization of resources hence avoidance of resource wastage.
Agile project design
Agile project design which focuses on adaptation to change of situations, regular feedback and
constant whether from other members of the team or the client (Nolan, 2016)This design
performs best on businesses that are oriented to consistently supply products to their customers
(McConnel, 2017)).
Examples of agile project design
Scrum

Project Design And Evaluation 5
Scrum entails production of software goods. Deliverables intervals range within thirty days. A
design pattern is more accurate, used to collaborate teams which are 100% dedicated and have no
time constraint (Nolan, 2016).
Extreme programming
EP relays on group work and consumer satisfaction. The methodology tackles communication,
feedback, simplicity, and courage (Nolan, 2016).This approach ensures communication is fairly
to all at the same time maintaining simplicity within the process, hence feedback achieved will
be accurate. (McConnel, 2017).
APF
Adaptive product framework is another example of agile which allows its team to operate
flexibly and optically. The approach suits challenges which are unique and problems which are
extra ordinary (McConnel, 2017).
Kanban
Kanban is an agile example also which shows the need of re-ordering particular products (Nolan,
2016). The approach estimates impact of an additional task to the productivity anticipated.
Dynamic systems development model
This methodology is another example of agile that boasts about documents and training, and
hence it’s like a subset. It majors more on the participation of active user during a life cycle of
the project (McConnel, 2017).
Crystal Method

Project Design And Evaluation 6
Crystal also lies under the category of agile. More concern is on skills of the team,
communication, people and interactions they have with each other.
Outcome mapping
Another commonly used project design is outcome mapping (Lahoud, 2010).This methodology
is a style for planning, monitor and evaluating developing initiatives to come up with pleasant
social change
Examples of outcome mapping design
ITIL
ITIL (information technology infrastructure library) deals with collection of relevant practices in
the management of the project.
Event chain approach
This technique deals with estimating the impact actions will have to those who are not within
(McConnel, 2017). It focusses on schedules and events.
Why some project designs fail to work in some social contexts
Some of the designs may contain little statistical power. For example in community-based
programs .Financial, logistical and political ideas constraint sum of an area that contributes to
any evaluation and intervention (Brooks & Waylen, 2017). Thus the little power of project
design might limit assessments based on responses from the community (Chanda and Ray,
2015).
Also in some social contexts like projects involving business can be affected by the influence of
social trends. Efficient and accurate working of project design depends on a constant level of
those it's designed to address (Chanda and Ray, 2015).Changes in taste and preferences of the

Project Design And Evaluation 7
community bring some limitations hence projects style might be unlikely to in this kind of
challenge (Cook, 2017).
Communication problems in some social contexts is another issue why some project methods
may fail to work. For example sound project of spreading vaccination against measles. (Cook,
2017). If the community has communication indifference, then only a few people in that situation
will be reached by this project. Project design may plan a project, but it won’t work to all
community members due to the problems associated with the communication (Brooks &
Waylen, 2017).
Another way some projects design might fail to work is corruption. In some contexts especially
dealing with project management based on procurement (Brooks & Waylen, 2017). These might
face a significant challenge since some of the team members are very corrupt, and even the
government itself might be corrupt and lead to misappropriation of funds hence project designing
might be very challenging and cause impossibility of working (Cook, 2017).
Also, some project design like modern ones may not be likely to work in some contexts like a
plan of the building. The modern design applies when there is a need for improvement during the
project but not at the beginning (Brooks & Waylen, 2017). Therefore, if for example there is a
project requiring processes like building, a modern design might not be considered since it does
not have sequential steps to be followed like it’s in the case of traditional method(Chanda and
Ray, 2015).
Some projects designs like agile are very specific (Brooks & Waylen, 2017). For example like in
an area where climate conditions keep on changing. Therefore, use of agile design will be
impossible since agile requires constant situations. Therefore those who rely on using this design
in their agriculture projects won’t be applicable in this area (Chanda and Ray, 2015).

Project Design And Evaluation 8
Outcome mapping style may also experience difficulties if it’s used purposely to cause particular
change. This design reasonably starts a project to bring a change (Chanda and Ray,
2015).Therefore, if team members of the project plan a project to achieve an efficient outcome,
then this design won’t be applicable since there is no any change required but relevant impact.
Types of project, their products and design category
Type of project Project product(examples) Project design
category
Administrative (Klakegg,
2016)
Accounting system new
application(Harrin, 2017)
Outcome mapping
Relocation or event New building move or Olympiads
(Ingason & Schoper, 2017)
Agile
Construction (Yellamraju,
2011).
Road or a building(Klakegg,
2016)
waterfall
Research (Ingason &
Schoper, 2017)
Chemical investigation or a
feasibility study
modern
System installation or
equipment (Klakegg, 2016)
IT system or telephone system
(Yellamraju, 2011).
Waterfall
Process industries
maintenance (Yellamraju,
2011).
Electricity generation station
(Ingason & Schoper, 2017)
modern
Design of planning Engineering plans waterfall
Software computer
development (Harrin,
2017)
New computer programs(Harrin,
2017)
modern
New product development
(Youker, 2017)
Defense product/aerospace or new
drug (Yellamraju, 2011).
Modern

Project Design And Evaluation 9
Relevance of project design to the success of the projects above
The success of the project might depend on h strategic planning. If design itself is strategically
relevant, then achieving of the project will be possible since things will be relevant. (Chapman,
2017). If project design reviews and objectives are in good order as well as key milestones, this
finally contributes to the success (Lock, 2017).
Communication in project designs is also relevant for the success of the project (Stevenson &
Starkweather, 2017). For example, if new processes have been introduced, then communication
about this should reach all those who are concerned in an equal manner. In essence, equal
communication to all will be contributing to the success (Chapman, 2017).
It’s essential to have adequate use of resources based on finances, people, time and equipment
allocated. Internally, IT program supplying human resources, or other relevant facilities to
project is involved. Therefore in this scenario waterfall design can be applied to ensure resources
are used well for the success of the anticipated project (Lock, 2017).
Project design is relevant for success on how it’s done, the effectiveness of the governance
present, how competent of those who carried project design and how they are committed to the
success of the project in the early stages of planning (Savolainen, Ahonen & Richardson, 2012).
Consequently, project will succeed the above practices are put in action.
Another relevance of design to a success of the project depends on how organization structure is
suitable. The kind of design used if it fits the organization where the project is carried on will

Project Design And Evaluation 10
lead to the achievement (Alleman, 2014). For example administrative project match with
traditional design (Lock, 2017). These is because if there is any construction going to take place,
then it must start from initiation stage of a waterfall to have flow and get rid of risk in progress
(Chapman, 2017).
Relevance of project design to the failure of the projects above
The complexity of project design can contribute to failing of the projects. Some projects are too
broad such that they require plans to be wide too. If the design of the project is overly broad, this
may cause some irrelevance and some confusion to those involved. (Lock, 2017). Consequently,
there might be strong progress might demand a lot. These might cause an extra ordinary problem
which might be beyond the capacity of the team to solve. This will at the end of the day lead to
failure (Savolainen, Ahonen & Richardson, 2012).
Casual links which have poorly formulated between the outputs, inputs, and outcome is also a
common design problem. Objectives designed insufficiently, set aims which are hard and
unlikely to be achieved (Savolainen, Ahonen & Richardson, 2012). For example, a specific
project is to produce engineers who are more trained. However, due to poor formulation design
is done targeting training facilities hence no trained engineers will be presented at a completion
of the project hence leading to failure (Lock, 2017).
Premature approval of project design is also accountable for the failure of the projects. For
example, some of the projects like infrastructure tend to start even before bid of the documents is
carried on (Savolainen, Ahonen & Richardson, 2012). When these infrastructure projects
approach portfolio too soon, they tend to waste time handling issues which were to be
accomplished at commence of the project (Chapman, 2017).

Project Design And Evaluation 11
Poor selection of success indicators also is a design problem which contributes to the failure of
the project. If symbols are chosen blindly, also the whole team carrying on the project tend to fly
blind at the first phase of design (Lock, 2017). For example, if a project gives objectives and
among the given the projects one of the outcomes is irrelevant, if it was supposed to address sub-
regions instead it will apply to the entire country. This will happen because of a project to failure
since it serves opposite of what was expected (Chapman, 2017).
References
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Project Design And Evaluation 12
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