The development process of software plays a very important role in software failure. According to the research, 14% of all software projects fail and this articulates that even though the software industry is continuously growing and evolving, a good chunk of software projects still don’t pan out outright.
The list of reasons behind software failure includes increased cost of operations, insufficient resources, scheduling, costing, etc. These reasons can cause a serious threat to the success and profit output of the companies. Let’s find out the reasons for software failure.
1) Unclear Project requirements:
To prevent a software failure, all key requirements of it should be communicated to the development team right at the start of the project. At times, the managers themselves aren’t sure about the guidelines and requirements of software hence they leave the development team unclear. If the development team itself is not aware of how the software will scale, it is not possible for them to cater to the organization’s requirements and expectations.
2) Inadequate planning and management:
The research found that 55% of IT specialists complained that most software projects fail as a result of insufficient resources, staff, time, and management. All of this is a result of inadequate planning. The management as well as the owners should keep the development team in the loop before setting deadlines and managing resources. Ensuring this will set realistic deadlines, and required resources will be retrieved effectively.
3) Poor project management:
A good project manager is essential to all projects. Without a competent PM, it is unlikely that any team will meet its deadlines effectively. One of the main reasons behind software failures is the absence of a good project manager. Without a proper technical project manager, there will be a lack of communication and adequate planning among the team and they are the key to a successful project delivery.
4) Accepting a completion date without analysis:
One of the main reasons behind software failures is the fact that IT teams agree upon milestone dates without thorough research and analysis. Publicly speculating that a software project will be done by a specific date without research is enforcing an unrealistic deadline upon the team. It is advised that sufficient time and resources should be allocated to the technical team regarding the completion of a software project. Giving them short time margins will not only lead to chaos but also software failures and a bad market name for companies. Therefore, it is significant for the teams to have realistic completion dates.
5) Overloading Personnel:
The number of people working on a project definitely has to do with its final outcome. If your team requires 10-12 people and you have hired 20 people, it can get chaotic. It will lead to more arguments, ideas, and misunderstandings. The general idea that states hiring more people will speed up the process is a misconception. Going overboard with the number of project members can in fact reduce the speed instead of increasing it since the new people added will have to be trained accordingly and it will take time for them to settle in. It will also increase the overall cost of the project since hiring people is expensive.
6) Inadequate workforce:
Just as having too many people on a project is problematic, having too few people is also not advisable. The team will be inefficient and it will be extremely difficult to meet deadlines in the given time frame. A blend of the correct number of IT specialists is required for the successful completion of a software project. The correct number of people working in a team will entirely depend on the nature of the project and the time frame.
7) Lack of frequent project reviews:
It is always a good idea to match your progress with the initial goals of the project. If you fail to do so, you will have to face some not very pleasant surprises and the risk of a software failure will also increase. The way to go about it is that you should frequently look at the project progress and cross-check it with the initial roadmap. Failure in doing so will also increase the chances of chaos towards the end since there will be a lot of things left to do within a short time span. Checking up on the project on a timely basis will prevent this from happening.
8) Incompetent IT experts:
One of the biggest mistakes most organizations make is to hire incompetent freelancers and team members for software completion. It is extremely important to invest good money in a good team since the entire project depends upon their expertise. It is always a pro-tip to hire a specialist team since good services do not come off cheap. Moreover, saving some amount at the start and then facing a project failure later can lead to huge financial losses.
9) Mismanagement of team:
The key element of a software project is the team working on it. Their expertise and motivation highly determine the success or failure of a software development project. If your team is demotivated because they are overburdened, unappreciated or hurdled with bottlenecks, then a software failure is more likely to occur. The motivation of your team can be kept intact by frequently communicating with them, making them feel heard, paying them well, and by giving them doable deadlines.
10) Not Involving Clients in the Discovery Phase:
It is extremely crucial to understand the end customers and their requirements. Software developers can’t deliver a good user experience, if they don’t understand who the actual user is and what he wants. When you do not involve users/clients in the discovery phase, it will result in software failure.
