Frank Patrick on sources of project failures

Frank Patrick has published his thoughts on the sources of project failures. What is different from many such lists I have seen so far is his focus on real-life factors (common especially in corporations) like inter-project dependencies and productivity killing influence of multitasking.

Frank's list:

1. "Failure to appreciate the impact of a multi-project environment on single project success


2. Irrational promises made due to a failure to take into account the variable nature of task performance


3. Irrational promises made due to a failure to take into account the statistical nature of project networks


4. Insufficient identification of dependencies necessary to deliver the project


5. Focus on (and active management of) only a portion of what should be the full project -- a true bottom-line value adding outcome for the sponsoring organization


6. Reliance on due-date, train-schedule, and actual-against-budget-to-date performance to drive project performance, resulting in the wasting of any safety included in the project (to account for 2 and 3 above) and in the effects of Parkinson's Law -- Work will expand to fill (and exceed) the time allowed


7. Wasting of resources through underutilization because they aren't the "best resource" for the job


8. Wasting of the "best" resources through over-utilization, multi-tasking, and burn-out


9. Delivering original scope when conditions/needs change. Flip-side: accepting changes to scope without sufficient analysis of impact on the project (or on other projects)


10. Multi-tasking, multi-tasking, multi-tasking, multi-tasking, and multi-tasking. Commonly thought of as a key problem in multi-project environments, where resources are expected to address tasks from different projects in a coincident time-frame, multi-tasking also impacts single project durations (and wastes safety) when dedicated resources are expected to wear several hats"

Some of those sound very familiar to me. And how about you?

Best practices in library design

John Resig presented some very interesting thoughts on a JavaScript library design based on his experiences with jQuery and FUEL.

John advises how to write a solid API (those ideas seem to be useful not only for JavaScript developers):

• perform universal actions (like CRUD)


• fear adding methods (defer to extensibility, less but more powerful methods)


• constantly review and remove unused code


• provide an upgrade path for deprecated APIs (plugins / extensions supporting obsolete methods)


• reduce to a common root (by finding common usage patterns)


• care about consistency (naming, arguments order)

Here is the presentation video:



Presentation slides are also available at SlideShare:

Rise and fall of the great warrior

Kaoklai Kaennorsing "was the first Thai K-1 Grand Prix winner at Seoul in July of 2004 at only 176lbs, beating fighters of 195 and 216lbs in the process. As well as winning the GP in seoul, two of Kaoklai's other great moments in K-1 came as he demonstrated the true attributes of a great Muay-Thai fighter. Beating the giant 6'5, 258lbs Belarussian Alexey 'the Red Scorpion' Ignashov to a decision over 4 gruelling rounds and his spectacular 1st round KO over the American Mighty Mo weighing in at 273lbs!

Kaoklai has proved time again that being the smallest fighter is no disadvantage by mastering the art of Muay-Thai; with bone shattering, lightning fast techniques and exhibitng immense levels of conditioning and endurance." (from Wikipedia)

"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." Eric Hoffer

"This plane isn't going to crash. I'm on it." Muhammad Ali

"I have said I'm the greatest. Ain't nobody ever heard me say I'm the smartest." Muhammad Ali

"Never idealize others. They will never live up to your expectations." Leo Buscaglia

You do not win just by being brave

"Those who will play with cats must expect to be scratched." Cervantes

Don't celebrate before the victory

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." Bill Gates

Energy and persistence conquer all things

"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence. Determination. The will to endure to the end, to get knocked down seventy times and get up off the floor saying - 'Here comes number seventy-one!'" - Richard M. DeVos

Even winners lose sometimes

Charles Lynch said "You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose". Don't let fear guide you.