Why most of the Software Project Fails

For the past decade I’ve been working with customers all around the world on their software projects. I have worked on successful projects as well as failed once. So what makes a Software project successful and failure ? Most of the software projects fails,because lack of understanding on the requirement or its actual purpose. It could be the stakeholders which unaware of the requirement or it could be the Business Analyst who’s struggling to collect all the necessary requirements. Neither BA nor stakeholders have any idea about the actual output of the project. The only thing doesn’t change in Software is “Change”,  but that doesn’t mean that you can change the requirement drastically in the development phase. There will be some minor changes which can be accepted, although those changes does not leads to a developers nightmare.

Why Civil Engineering succeed over Software Engineering ? Some can say Civil Engineering evolved from 2000+ years or so, even if its true there is another aspect for it. The initial Architecture of the building remains the same until its completion. There could be some minor amendments but those changes will not be affected to the core architecture. In the design phase, if the Architect/Stake holders decide to build a 10 story building, that will remains the same until its completion. What happens, if the stakeholders ask them to make it a Twelve story building ? Will it be possible ? even if its possible will they do it ? There is a high risk involved in the requested change, so the builders won’t even consider the requests. These things has to plan in the initial design phase. Similarly, in the software development stake holders and other project leaders must understand the scope of the changes and the size of the risk involved with it. As a general rule, you need to start with an end in mind, which means you need to have clear picture on the end product.

Software must be developed as an iteration process. It should build gradually. To deliver a successful software projects the project leader has to take precise decisions and needs to have a proper execution plan. Of course, there will be changes, but to handle and to deliver the project in time and within the budget involves a lot of talent.