EP66 Fireside Chat on what is forgotten in late projects

09/02/2025 41 min Temporada 3 Episodio 1
EP66 Fireside Chat on what is forgotten in late projects

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of Business Breaks, hosts Dante Healy and John Byrne discuss the hidden reasons behind project delays and why many project teams overlook critical factors that contribute to failure.

Key Themes Discussed:
The Business Case Blind Spot: Many project managers fail to revisit the original business case, leading them to work with outdated assumptions. Business needs evolve, but projects often continue based on old forecasts rather than real-time insights.

The Sunk Cost Trap: Companies hesitate to cancel failing projects because of the money already invested. However, strong project managers assess whether continued investment is still justified rather than persisting out of fear of wasted resources.

The Brooks’ Law Dilemma: Adding more people to a late project often makes it even later. The hosts explain how resource ramp-ups create complexity, onboarding delays, and communication bottlenecks, which slow progress rather than accelerating it.

Actionable Insights for Project Managers:
Schedule quarterly business case reviews to ensure projects still align with business goals.
Be transparent when a project no longer makes financial or strategic sense—stopping it can be a better decision than forcing completion.
Instead of adding more people, focus on removing blockers and managing scope creep effectively.
This episode takes a practical approach to project management, highlighting the importance of adaptability and decision-making based on real business value rather than rigid adherence to initial plans.

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