Reasons Why Your Programs Are Failing

Many successful organizations experience programmatic failure. If your organization has several failing programs year over year, we have identified areas of focus for programmatic success. Ensure that your program:

1. Receives Adequate Executive Support

In order for your program to succeed, wide support from leadership is essential. Executive support will influence the trajectory of your program, the predetermination of your program’s success, and their willingness to advance efforts. Your program is less likely to experience bottlenecks from lateral resources with knowledge that leadership has approved, or mandated the effort. Simply put, the lesser the support, the more the potential risk.

Tip: Look for ways to connect your program’s needs to the mission of the organization. 

Studies have shown executive support and a program’s mission are positively correlated. The more aligned a program is to an organization’s mission, the more likely the program is to succeed.

2. Remains In Scope

Be careful with what you commit to upfront! Clearly defined goals at the start will help tasks remain in scope. It is common for programs to receive expansion after approval, as associates often see it as an opportunity to achieve their project initiatives. In most cases, you can work to include additional initiatives, but each addition must be carefully decided upon. Carefully assess the organization’s priorities in comparison to the new initiatives, and the impact this has on the programs defined success.   

Tip: Focus on maximizing benefits realized by your organization. 

Be aware that many things have the power to offset the scope of your program. Oftentimes it is the hyper focus of smaller items, and/or gaining executive buyin. These can result in overcommitment of tasks.

Which leads us to our next point: identifying and implementing key performance metrics. Determining the continuity of scope can be assisted by tracking your performance metrics.

3. Employs Meaningful performance metrics 

Identifying the correct performance metrics at the start of every project will contribute to your organization’s programmatic success. Define success at the conception of the project plan, and this can be determined by stakeholders and/or the executive team.

Many programs fail because the goal is often to just get it done, without defining the how, or what we refer to as the definition of done. Incorporating meaningful key performance metrics has proven to be efficacious. Defining doneness with telling performance metrics not only shows executives and stakeholders that you’ve hit your mark, but it also creates a positive operational track record.

4. Procures proper resources

Failure to assess essential resources upfront can lead to: 

1. the program being delayed until appropriate resources are secured;
2. a program that is over budget;
3. a program that is incomplete. 

It is important to immediately and accurately assess all resource requirements for involved and impacted teams. Your program will be at its highest level of efficiency when you have mastered knowing when to use people versus tools. 

It is common in business for resource needs to be properly identified at the start of the program and remain unmet, with the same expectation for completion. In these instances we recommend to assess if your program is a value-add to the organization. Programs can often help bring in more dollars before its completion based on its incremental success, and can be utilized to acquire more resources. 

5. Adheres to the Approved timeline

It is not uncommon for organizations to face time constraints for programs; often enforcing hard to meet deadlines. Ensure that when given a program timeline that the scope and resourcing are accurate, otherwise it can derail the timeliness of the program. Once a deadline is set, be prepared to commit to it by any means, it is one of the propelling forces within a program. Deadlines are known to be associated with funding, compliance, budgeting, and more, hence almost always indubitable.

Moore Management & Company is helping organizations increase business efficiency and continuity that is measurable.

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