Global Thought Leader Andy Kaufman interviews P3GQA President Ross Garland on "People And Projects Podcast"

One of the most influential voices in Project Management today, Andy Kaufman , Host of The People and Projects Podcast, recently interviewed P3GQA President, Ross Garland where they discussed the links between project failure or underperformance and Project, Programme and Portfolio Governance.

This discussion went live in episode 432 on the People and Projects Podcast and here is where you can find it:

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The below is a direct extract from the People and Projects Podcast © website:

August 29, 2024

PPP 432 | Why Projects Fail: Ross Garland on Avoiding Common Pitfalls

In this episode, Andy talks with one of the gurus of governance, Ross Garland, co-author of the Project, Program, and Portfolio Governance Guide. They discuss the importance of governance in project management and how it differs from technical aspects like scope and risk management. Ross explains Cobb’s paradox and why projects still fail despite knowing how to prevent their failure. They also delve into the principles of governance, such as treating change differently from business as usual and ensuring a single point of accountability for each project or program. The guide provides practical tools and templates for implementing effective governance.

Sound Bites

“Cobbs Paradox: We know why projects fail. We know how to prevent their failure. So why do they still fail?”
“Most projects muddle through, they get through one way or another, they produce an output, they produce assets. And particularly if they’re government projects, ministers tend to be very happy because they get to cut the ribbon.”
“One of the loneliest positions in the world you can have is to be a project manager who needs to get decisions made, and when they look up in the governance structure, all they see is blue sky.”
“Some organizations still have the concept that the experts in project management should be the people leading projects. Now, if you do that, what you end up with is lovely assets, but not business outcomes.”
“There tends to be in some organizations a very unfortunate tendency to think that accountability is about who to blame when things go wrong. And that is not the case. It’s about empowerment.”
“A single point of accountability is essential for the success of a project or program.”

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:09 Start Of Interview
02:20 What Is Cobb’s Paradox And Why Does It Persist?
05:05 How Do You Describe Governance, And What Is It Not?
07:02 How Do You Differentiate Projects, Programs, And Portfolios?
10:05 How Does Your Guide Compare To PMI’s Practice Guide On Governance?
13:25 What Is The Importance Of Treating Change Differently From Business As Usual?
15:32 Can You Explain The Single Point Of Accountability Principle?
20:32 Real-World Example: Replacing A Payroll System
25:41 What Feedback Have You Received From People Using The Guide?
27:46 Where To Find The Guide
28:46 End Of Interview
29:07 Andy’s Comments After The Interview
33:30 Outtakes

ABOUT THE PODCAST

The People and Projects Podcast provides interviews and insights to help you deliver projects and lead teams. Episodes include interviews with thought leaders and experts such as Adam Grant, Dan Pink, Robert Cialdini, Scrum co-creator Jeff Sutherland, Cornelius Fichtner, and more. The podcast includes a free subscription that is available online, via iTunes or through any podcast app.

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People And Projects Podcast