IT Project Management: Application Development Success and Failure

This project analyzes the application development project undertaken by Wellen, focusing on the identification of factors contributing to its success and failure. The report, from the perspective of an IT project manager, highlights key success factors such as the use of project management software, a robust risk management plan, and effective communication strategies. Conversely, it identifies lack of funds, time constraints, and cost mismanagement as primary causes of failure. The study then introduces the PRINCE2 project management methodology as a means to mitigate these failures, offering a structured approach to project execution. The implementation of PRINCE2 principles, including continuous business justification, learning from experience, and defined roles, aims to improve time management, resource allocation, and technology assessment, ultimately leading to more successful project outcomes. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of project management in achieving desired results and mitigating potential deviations, promoting a proactive approach to project planning and execution.

Project Management for IT

Abstract
Project management is an important aspect for completion projects successfully. This help
the project manager to use the different factors in development of better strategy and measures
that are effective in nature. This report includes the reflective analysis of the earlier project about
the development of application for salesman by Wellen. It covers identification of causes for
failure and success along implementation of project management methodology. The main
success factors are risk management plan, use of project management software and effective
communication. The causes of failure are related to financial, time and cost risk. Application of
Prince 2 is further aid in overcoming from the factors of failure and project completion
successfully.

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
1. Analysis of four potential causes of success and another four different causes of failure in
relation to previous project of application development.............................................................1
2. Information about the project management methodology selected to address causes............3
3. Implementation of project management methodology to mitigate the cause of failure..........4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Project management is referring as the technique that help in addressing and adhering all
necessary deliverables associated with some work or project. The responsibility to made regular
decisions, guidance and allocation of roles and responsibilities is up to project manager. Project
manager also has the duty regrading assessment of the project viability, associated deviations and
measures for improving performance. Ascertaining viability of project help to analyse in the
initial stage about the successfulness or failure (Brewer and Dittman, 2018). The viable project
further requires regular inspection so deviations will be eliminated through adoption of effective
measures. The current project is based upon the review of the earlier project related to the
development of application for salesman by an organisation named Wellen. The main aim of this
report is to analyse the associated success and failure factors on the basis of previous study and
implement project management methodology made project successful.
The aspects cover in report includes reflection as project IT manager about the associated
causes of success and failure with the previous study of building application for salesman and
application of the effective project management methodology for the purpose of addressing such
causes.
MAIN BODY
1. Analysis of four potential causes of success and another four different causes of failure in
relation to previous project of application development
As project IT manager, I have the duty to analyse the viability of project and ascertain the
information about associated success and failure factors. The importance of this is for me that
help to check the viability of project along with adoption of measures that will be necessary to
build successful project. This will also help to select the appropriate project management
methodology so able to utilise the source the sources of success along with mitigation of those
that leads failure. Wellen is the organisation who was indulged in the work of application
development. The main aim of this application is to improve the working scope of salesman so
they all will be get to the sufficient amount of earnings (Wang, 2018). The different causes
related to the failure and success of the application development is presented below:
Causes of success in application development work
1

Use of project management software in resource management: It is ascertained from
the analysis of project that the project management software was taken in use for the
management of resources. The benefits ascertained that leads towards some success includes
assessment of current workloads, better assignment of tasks, assessing current resource pressure
etc.
Development of risk management plan: It is determined the analysis of previous study
that risk management plan is used to mitigate the impact of risks. At some point this also depicts
as the cause of success in application development. This will aid in completion of work even in
the situation of low amount of funds, lack of time and frequent change in requirements
(Heldman, 2018).
Early determination of time management strategies: It is ascertained from the
previous study that work is done upon the development of time management strategies. This
provides the help to effective management of time. It integrated alignment with risk management
plan aspect help in formulation of such alternatives that leads towards success and development
of application (Causes of success in application development work, 2020).
Focusing over communication management: It is analysed from the previous study that
organisation has effective use the communication aspects while working over the work of
application development. The main role is performed by communication management in this
direction that provides opportunity to use different sources at different times in accordance to the
created needs.
Causes of failure in application development work
Lack of funds: This is one of the prime factor that impacts the working nature of project
and leads towards the failure or inappropriate development. Funds are the amount of money
allocated for the project completion. It is ascertained from the analysis of study, that source of
funding with an organisation are not appropriate. Also, the work of allocating same is not
properly among different teams. It hinders the capacity of all in completion of project with
compliance of all necessary quality standards that are important in effective development of
application (Mavi and Standing, 2018).
Lack of time: This is about the time provided for the completion of project. This is
further divided in the different stages on the basis of the deliverables included in the project.
From the study of project, analysed that available time is not perfect for the application
2

development. Also, some of the main stages in application development did not got appropriate
time. This hinders the capacity to deliver same desired quality at another stage. This builds the
process where no one is able to deliver quality work that leads in appropriate application
development.
Inappropriate management of cost: This is the work associated with cost management
through use of different methods and techniques. This has huge role in maintenance of funding’s
within the project. From the analysis of study, ascertained that management not applied effective
cost management principles. This hinders the capacity to minimise the funds wastage and
completion of project with allocated budget. The final end result is development of application
with inappropriate features (Kerzner, 2019).
Presence of high technological risks: This is about the risks associated with technology
use and changes in market. The evolvement of technologies is rapid that hinders the capacity to
implement correct one to attain more accurate results. From the previous study, determined that
management of an organisation did not took any steps for technological analysis. This resultant
in to the use of technologies which are high in cost and low in features. The impact is ascertained
in the form of high cost of application development with least amount of features (Causes of
failure in application development work, 2020).
The main reason behind consideration of points as success criterion that all aid in
completion of activities through functioning according to planned activities. The points which
are presented under causes of failure were selected because the unavailability of any one have
direct negative impact over the continuation of routine work.
2. Information about the project management methodology selected to address causes
The application of project management methodology is must for developing and improving
the current working conditions along with ascertaining desired results. The methodology has the
main work towards mitigating current causes of failures. In the present case, Prince 2 is use as
the project management methodology. The description of this methodology along with working
and benefits is provided below:
Prince 2
PRINCE2 is a venture the executive’s strategy generally embraced around the world
utilized by individuals and associations from wide-running enterprises and divisions. It is an
adaptable strategy that guides you through the basics for overseeing fruitful ventures, paying
3

little heed to type or scale. Based upon seven standards, subjects and procedures, PRINCE2 can
be custom-made to meet your particular prerequisites.
The key highlights of PRINCE2 centre around business profession, characterizing the
structure of an association for the undertaking supervisory crew and utilizing an item based
methodology. There's an accentuation on separating the venture into sensible and controllable
stages, with adaptability. PRINCE2 gives extraordinary command over venture assets and
exceeds expectations at overseeing business and task chance all the more successfully (Kidd,
2020).
3. Implementation of project management methodology to mitigate the cause of failure
The process used to carry the work of project within aid of Prince 2 methodology includes
starting of a project, directing, initiating, controlling, managing product delivery, managing stage
boundaries and closing of a project. The process is very simple and divides the work in different
stages. This will provide the opportunity to allocate the work to professionals according to the
nature of work they performed. This will work in right direction towards completion of all the
steps properly related to time management, fund allocation, cost management and technology
assessment.
Also, the principles of this methodology has the main the main role towards improving
performances that includes continues business justification, learning from experience, defined
roles and responsibilities, management by stages, management by exception, focus on products
and tailoring the suit of environment. All these provides the opportunity to add more
professionalism in working stages and completion of work with high precision (Markopoulos,
2019). Learning from experience help to manage cost and time and on the other hand, defined
roles and responsibilities provides the opportunity to implement right technology and ascertain
various sources of funds. The benefit of all ascertained in the form that project will be completed
on time within the amount of given budget and if something went wrong then additional sources
of fund help to manage cost towards completing work on time through usage of advanced
technologies. The themes of this methodology also includes the determinants like quality, risk
management, progress assessment etc. All these have contribution in the direction that use the
approach that always able to provide positive results.
4

CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that role of project management is high
towards building any project successful. It is clear that this help to ascertain the viability of
project along with ascertaining the information about the causes that lead in the direction of
failure and success. This help the project manager to use appropriate strategies and
methodologies that improves the working in future and mitigation of presented deviations. The
success factors identified from the analysis of earlier project includes use of project management
software, risk management plan and effective communication plan. The factors of failure include
lack of funds, time and inappropriate costing. The determination of both successive and failure
point help in improvement of knowledge so nothing will be occurred same in future. Prince 2 is
ascertained as best method that aid in overcoming from the failure factors through use of its core
principles. The main principles identified are continues business justification, learning from
experience, defined roles and responsibilities, management by stages, management by exception
and focus on products. These help to over the point of failure. The integration of principles
within themes of Prince 2 made it more strengthen towards accomplishment of project
successfully.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Brewer, J. L., & Dittman, K. C. (2018). Methods of IT project management. Purdue University
Press.
Heldman, K. (2018). PMP: project management professional exam study guide. John Wiley &
Sons.
Kerzner, H. (2019). Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for
project management. John Wiley & Sons.
Kidd, T. (2020). Handbook of research on technology project management, planning, and
operations. Learning, 318.
Markopoulos, E. (2019, July). An IT Project Management Methodology Generator Based on an
Agile Project Management Process Framework. In International Conference on
Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics (pp. 421-431). Springer, Cham.
Mavi, R. K., & Standing, C. (2018). Critical success factors of sustainable project management
in construction: A fuzzy DEMATEL-ANP approach. Journal of cleaner
production. 194. 751-765.
Wang, Y. (2018, January). Development and implementation of innovation and entrepreneurship
project management system for college students. In 2018 International Conference on
Intelligent Transportation, Big Data & Smart City (ICITBS) (pp. 504-507). IEEE.
Online
Causes of success in application development work. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://www.codementor.io/blog/software-projects-failure-rate-success-factors-
1nqch57orj>
Causes of failure in application development work. 2020. [Online]. Available Through: <
https://project-management.com/top-10-main-causes-of-project-failure/>
6