62 percent of IT projects fail. Why?

by Matt Asay

  March 21, 2008 7:03 AM PDT

CIO.com cites a Dynamic Markets survey of 800 IT managers, reporting that 62 percent of IT projects fail to meet their schedules. Other data:

• 49 percent suffered budget overruns
• 47 percent had higher-than-expected maintenance costs, and
• 41 percent failed to deliver the expected business value and ROI

This wouldn't be so bad, CIO.com notes, if it weren't for the fact that the numbers haven't appreciably improved over the past decade. In some cases, they've gotten worse.

Why? Why do 25 percent of all IT projects get canceled before completion? CIO.com cites two reasons:

1. IT departments don't take into account the time required between design and development and
2. QA is not adequately understood and budgeted into projects' timelines.

One other thing that I've seen fairly often is a disconnect between the IT department and the business owners who sponsor IT projects. The two often have very different ideas as to what they want.

From the business owner side, they are often more enamored of demos than technology. This is sometimes good but also just as often bad. One customer of mine has had its Alfresco implementation delayed by a year because a three-month project with a proprietary product has taken over 15 months. The proprietary software that IT is attempting to deploy looks great in demos, but is a pile of potty to deploy.

Other times, it's the IT department that leads with technology and overlooks business owners' requirements. I've had this early in my company's product lifecycle when it showed great promise but little polish. We had a customer attempt to deploy the product for something it was ill-equipped to do...and the business owner rejected it.

I'm not sure what the solution is for this disconnect, but I suspect it's the cause of more IT project failures than most others. Any suggestions?

Top Ten Online Project Management Tools

BY SOUMYA NALAM on e-ProjectManagers.com March 2012

Online project management tools have made the planning, managing and execution of resources possible by streamlining the entire process of virtual collaboration. These tools are ideal for project managers who would like to share resources, manage their team, and assign projects irrespective of where they team is located.

1.  Basecamp ( www.basecamphq.com )

This popular project management tool with its user-friendly interface offers a cool set of features such as dashboard, file sharing, to-do lists, message boards, milestones, time tracking, project overview, and comments on messages received/sent.

2.  Teambox ( www.teambox.com )

The interface of this tool closely resembles a Twitter page where you can share tasks, attach files, and receive email notifications. A free account enables users to manage up to 3 projects and it also comes with a secured data backup

If you like the way you interact with your fans in twitter, you’ll love this tool.  The interface looks like your usual twitter page, only that here, you can share tasks, get notices by email.  You can setup an account in just a minute and you can access it anytime, anywhere.  It also.  Their free account lets you and you can go unlimited for their paid premium plans.

3.  DeskAway ( www.deskaway.com )

This online project management tool that needs no installation and enables data access anytime and anywhere lets users manage, collaborate, and build a social community around their projects.

4.  Activecollab ( www.activecollab.com )

For those who would like to have full control of their data, they can set up their own server or local network for their team, clients, or contractors along with time tracking and invoicing features which makes this an all-in-one tool. The improved visual editor provides a drag and drop functionality for tasks.

5.  Teamwork ( www.teamworkpm.net )

With multiple language support and a custom view for information, this tools offers an easy way to create new projects, manage existing ones, check milestones while keeping everyone in the loop.

6.  Central Desktop ( www.centraldesktop.com )

Its WYSIWYG editor, simple layout, and central desktop that offers intranet and project collaboration solutions for small groups to enterprises is ideal for project managers who have anywhere between a hundred to a thousand people reporting to them.

7.  5pm ( www.5pmweb.com )

Using this tool, tasks can be accessed from a mobile phone and some of its features include managing projects, sharing notes or files, time tracking, customized reports, email integration, a customizable interface, and an interactive timeline.

8.  Wrike ( www.wrike.com )

Over 50 projects can be managed in a single workspace that saves up to 25 hours of work each month and doubles a team’s productivity

9.  Huddle ( www.huddle.net )

It offers a secured online space without the hassle of having to install an app on a pc.

10.  ProWorkFlow ( www.proworkflow.com )

A web browser or an iPhone is all that is required to use this tool that optimizes business processes, tracks projects, timekeeping, and manages staff resources.

Online project management tools have made the planning, managing and execution of resources possible by streamlining the entire process of virtual collaboration. These tools are ideal for project managers who would like to share resources, manage their team, and assign projects irrespective of where they team is located.

1.  Basecamp ( www.basecamphq.com ) - This popular project management tool with its user-friendly interface offers a cool set of features such as dashboard, file sharing, to-do lists, message boards, milestones, time tracking, project overview, and comments on messages received/sent.

2.  Teambox ( www.teambox.com ) - The interface of this tool closely resembles a Twitter page where you can share tasks, attach files, and receive email notifications. A free account enables users to manage up to 3 projects and it also comes with a secured data backupIf you like the way you interact with your fans in twitter, you’ll love this tool.  The interface looks like your usual twitter page, only that here, you can share tasks, get notices by email.  You can setup an account in just a minute and you can access it anytime, anywhere.  It also.  Their free account lets you and you can go unlimited for their paid premium plans.

3.  DeskAway ( www.deskaway.com ) - This online project management tool that needs no installation and enables data access anytime and anywhere lets users manage, collaborate, and build a social community around their projects.  

4.  Activecollab ( www.activecollab.com ) - For those who would like to have full control of their data, they can set up their own server or local network for their team, clients, or contractors along with time tracking and invoicing features which makes this an all-in-one tool. The improved visual editor provides a drag and drop functionality for tasks.

5.  Teamwork ( www.teamworkpm.net ) - With multiple language support and a custom view for information, this tools offers an easy way to create new projects, manage existing ones, check milestones while keeping everyone in the loop.

6.  Central Desktop ( www.centraldesktop.com ) - Its WYSIWYG editor, simple layout, and central desktop that offers intranet and project collaboration solutions for small groups to enterprises is ideal for project managers who have anywhere between a hundred to a thousand people reporting to them.

7.  5pm ( www.5pmweb.com ) - Using this tool, tasks can be accessed from a mobile phone and some of its features include managing projects, sharing notes or files, time tracking, customized reports, email integration, a customizable interface, and an interactive timeline.

8.  Wrike ( www.wrike.com ) - Over 50 projects can be managed in a single workspace that saves up to 25 hours of work each month and doubles a team’s productivity

9.  Huddle ( www.huddle.net ) - It offers a secured online space without the hassle of having to install an app on a pc.  

10.  ProWorkFlow ( www.proworkflow.com ) - A web browser or an iPhone is all that is required to use this tool that optimizes business processes, tracks projects, timekeeping, and manages staff resources.

Top 5 Open Source Software for Human Resource Management

This article is from blogger Joy Maiywa, freelance writer.

In today’s global market, it is vital for companies to hold on to their most vital asset, which is the human resource, if they are to remain relevant in spite of the aggressive competition all around them.

This is because the success chart for any company not only depends on factors such as technology, strategies, and products, but also on its labor force to a large extent.

This makes it crucial for employers to handle and manage their human resource department in an effective manner if they are to retain them and get the best out of them.

By using modern, high-quality software technologies, companies can easily achieve effective human resource management, which will in turn lead to maximum workforce output.

Human resource software has largely grown and developed since the desktop computer was first put to use in the 1980′s and today, there are numerous applications available, some are free and while some not.

For those that are sold at a price, you might want to Google the internet for discounts.

The following is a list of some of the top five open source apps available for human resource:

OrangeHRM

www.OrangeHRM.com

This is a free and popular human resource management software that effectively improves communication within a company. Using the software, information from HR managers can be conveyed with ease to employees in every department in a company. When installed, OrangeHRM takes up minimal space of only 5.7 MB. In spite of its small size, it provides valuable features that cover all necessary functions in a company. Examples of modules available in the software include applicant module, employee self-service module, personal information management module, and benefit module.

WaypointHR

www.WaypointHR.com

Waypoint HR is one of the most highly rated open source human resource software among users. This is because it offers a flexible and stable interface that allows HR managers to store all the information concerning their employees in an easy-to-access manner. Since it is also user-friendly, managers with different technical knowledge and background can operate it with ease.

TimeTrex

www.timetrex.com

For certain organizations, it is important that employee attendance be accurately monitored. Such organizations can benefit from TimeTrex software, as it effectively handles the task of monitoring attendance. This is because it is a real-time app that supervises employee attendance from any global location. Companies can also customize the software to meet their budget and requirements.

LATRIX

www.sourceforge.net/projects/latrix/

Being a web application, any company can use LATRIX to manage and monitor its workforce. There are 17 different varieties that companies can choose from to configure the software according to their unique requirements. Other features in this open source software include shifts, time zones, public holidays, and block periods.

Open Applicant

www.openapplicant.org

This is the software of choice for streamlining a company’s recruitment process. The software effectively tracks applicant numbers and evaluates their performance. HR managers can also use the application to check each applicant’s background. Additional features in this software include customized assessments examinations, reporting, and email and resume screening.

Human resource software has largely grown and developed over time and today, and as seen from the selections above, there are various kinds available, some free and some not. For those that are sold at a price, feel free to use newegg coupon to search for a great discount from its sale.

If you use any of these applications, share your experience with us in the comments section below!