Why do (even) small projects often fail?

HERMES One helps organizations to manage smaller projects efficiently.

Small projects are often underestimated. Depending on the organization, the project budget for a small project is a maximum of CHF 50,000 to CHF 250,000, often lasts less than 6 months and usually has low technical or organizational requirements.
Typical examples are the redesign of a website, a marketing campaign for a local event, the optimization of an existing business process or the implementation of market research.

Small projects fail anyway – usually for one or more of the following reasons:

  • Lack of structure and planning: Small projects are often approached informally or with little planning because they seem “too small” to require a formal method.
    However, the lack of a clear project plan, objectives and responsibilities can lead to confusion and inefficient work.
  • Unclear goals and requirements: As it is often considered unnecessary to define precise requirements, small projects often lack clear objectives.
    This leads to misunderstandings and deviations during implementation.
  • Lack of resources: Smaller projects often do not receive the necessary human, time or financial resources.
    The lack of dedicated resources can severely affect the quality and progress of the project.
  • Lack of prioritization: Small projects are often neglected compared to larger projects and do not receive the necessary attention.
    This can lead to them “drowning” in the priority list and not being completed properly.
  • Poor communication: Communication is often seen as less important because the project is smaller.
    However, this can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of coordination, which significantly hinders progress.
  • Too many parallel tasks: As smaller projects are often carried out informally alongside day-to-day business, they can be crowded out by other tasks.
    The lack of focus leads to them dragging on or failing.
  • Underestimated complexity: Smaller projects are often perceived as simple, but sometimes they conceal more complex requirements.
    If these are not recognized and taken into account in good time, problems can arise.
  • Lack of accountability: In small projects, responsibility is often not clearly defined, which can lead to an unclear understanding of roles and a lack of commitment.
    If no one is explicitly responsible for success, delays or failure can easily occur.

How can I improve the success rate of small projects?

The success rate of small projects can be significantly improved by using a minimally structured method such as HERMES One – without sacrificing the flexibility of a small project.

Why should I use HERMES One for my small project?

The following good reasons speak in favor of using HERMES One in small projects:

  • Efficiency for small projects: HERMES One is specifically designed to handle smaller projects quickly and easily.
    It reduces the planning and administration effort by offering a simpler and minimally structured approach.
  • Easy to use: As the method is less complex than HERMES 2022, HERMES One is particularly suitable if the formal effort is to be kept to a minimum.
    It saves time and resources without leaving the project completely unstructured.
  • Flexibility: HERMES One is not limited to IT projects and can be used for projects with a wide range of requirements.
    It therefore offers a wider range of applications and adapts to different projects.
  • Clarity for small projects: Projects that were previously carried out without a clear methodology benefit from a structured approach.
    HERMES One ensures order and transparency, which makes implementation easier.
  • Avoiding overregulation: For projects below the threshold above which HERMES 2022 is required, HERMES One is a sensible solution as it avoids unnecessary bureaucracy, which is often superfluous for small projects.

How do I start my small project with HERMES One?

Read our blog post about this: Implementing a small project in 4 steps with HERMES One – here’s how

Questions about HERMES One?

We will be happy to support you in the implementation of your HERMES One project:

  • Adaptation of the templates to your organization
  • Setting up and monitoring project implementation
  • Maintaining the project documentation
  • Filling the roles of project manager, business analyst, test manager or tester

 

Describe your initial situation to us – and ask for a non-binding solution discussion.
We are ready to make your projects a success.

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