By Raja Al-Otaibi
PROJECTS sometimes fail because of one member in the team that is executing it, especially when this person is influential. When the system is built around one individual who may the team leader or project manager, the failure of the project becomes unavoidable at times.
For this very reason the selection of the project manager is of great importance because the choice of a manager will simply mean the success or failure of the scheme.
The first signs of a project's failure is when the leader is lacking in basic leadership qualities, such as a clear vision, decisiveness, farsightedness, determination, motivation, problem-solving skills, ability to work in a team and others.
If the project manager does not have these qualities, problems will crop up on the road and the project is doomed to failure.
The leader is bound to fail if he constantly reprimands, rebukes and criticizes members of him team, of which he is one. He will also fail when he puts his own interests first against the interests of other team members.
The manager will definitely fail if he wants to steal all the limelight and be the sole focus of attention while keeping the others with him in the dark.
He will fail if he does not pay the employees their financial dues or delay them giving lame excuses.
He will fail if he is by nature a worried person who is always tense and nervous. This will create a negative atmosphere and he will reflect his anxieties and worries on all others working with him in the project.
The leader will fail when he thinks he is the only one who knows and understands and the others with him are only executors of his instructions.
The leader will fail when he believes that he is very well versed in all the specializations and therefore does not give the experts the time or opportunity to provide him with advice and solutions.
The manager will fail if he delays the work until the last minute before he suddenly gets up and roars like a lion screaming and blaming. His sole concern in this case will be the finishing the project today or tomorrow, regardless of the quality of work. The result in this case will be meager and unsatisfactory.
The project will fail when the manager formulates the work plan according to his own leisure time regardless of the availability of his workers. He should be concerned with the time other workers can be on the site.
The project will be doomed to failure when the manager loses the compass and does not know when to start or when to finish. The manager should be aware of the time for the completion of every stage otherwise catastrophes are likely to occur.
The project will fail when the manager is excessively self-centered. When he comes, the work will proceed but if he is absent the work will stop. The manager will be reserving the last word for himself even if the task is simple and easy and any one in the team can decide it for him.
Finally, the project will fail if it is functionally tied down to a particular division in the government department. In order for the project to succeed, it should be independent with an autonomous administration and an independent budget.
