By now you must know that due to high failures and high cost some 30% of IT projects are cancelled outright. Research shows that of those that complete at all, 51% exceed budget by 189% and deliver only 74% functionality. This means that just around 19% of IT projects complete on time, within budget and with the features promised.

Here is the kicker to us ITSM folks – adopting IT service management practices and new ITSM software tools are also projects! And yes, research shows about the same dismal success rates for our BSM, ITSM, ITIL and tool initiatives as well.

The waste from failed IT projects is staggering and comes in at around $75 billion annually – mainly due to poor performance drivers, undisciplined project management and poor communication between IT and the business and within IT. Is there any wonder why the business is so hesitant to green light our pet IT projects? This also explains why more and more businesses are looking to project management as a means to manage IT.

The issue is that most IT managers are only vaguely aware of formal project management; it is an entire body of knowledge and skills, by the way. Many within IT usually hold project management and project managers in contempt, sometimes for good reasons. Most IT managers only come into contact with project management when the Project Management Office that “does project management to IT” shows up.

So, what is going on here? Can’t we learn what to do from those IT projects that succeed and what not to do from those IT projects that fail? Can’t we in IT learn how be successful? The answer is yes, and it is also pretty easy too.

Following is a simple tool anyone can use to help determine your chances of success or failure. While this is an “unofficial” assessment and of course incomplete, it will do the job 80% of the time and at significantly less cost than hiring a consultant to boot.

Pass or Fail?

Print this little worksheet. It has two lists of items titled “A” and “B”. Each item is worth one point. Check each situation in each column that you feel to be true for your current ITIL tool or process implementation. Check any item in “A” you also don’t quite understand and uncheck any item in “B” you don’t understand as well. Then, add up the points for both columns to see if your current IT-project (and perhaps ITIL implementation) is likely to succeed or fail.

By now you must know that due to high failures and high cost some 30% of IT projects are cancelled outright. Research shows that of those that complete at all, 51% exceed budget by 189% and deliver only 74% functionality. This means that just around 19% of IT projects complete on time, within budget and with the features promised.

Here is the kicker to us ITSM folks – adopting IT service management practices and new ITSM software tools are also projects! And yes, research shows about the same dismal success rates for our BSM, ITSM, ITIL and tool initiatives as well.

The waste from failed IT projects is staggering and comes in at around $75 billion annually – mainly due to poor performance drivers, undisciplined project management and poor communication between IT and the business and within IT. Is there any wonder why the business is so hesitant to green light our pet IT projects? This also explains why more and more businesses are looking to project management as a means to manage IT.

The issue is that most IT managers are only vaguely aware of formal project management; it is an entire body of knowledge and skills, by the way. Many within IT usually hold project management and project managers in contempt, sometimes for good reasons. Most IT managers only come into contact with project management when the Project Management Office that “does project management to IT” shows up.

So, what is going on here? Can’t we learn what to do from those IT projects that succeed and what not to do from those IT projects that fail? Can’t we in IT learn how be successful? The answer is yes, and it is also pretty easy too.

Following is a simple tool anyone can use to help determine your chances of success or failure. While this is an “unofficial” assessment and of course incomplete, it will do the job 80% of the time and at significantly less cost than hiring a consultant to boot.

Pass or Fail?

Print this little worksheet. It has two lists of items titled “A” and “B”. Each item is worth one point. Check each situation in each column that you feel to be true for your current ITIL tool or process implementation. Check any item in “A” you also don’t quite understand and uncheck any item in “B” you don’t understand as well. Then, add up the points for both columns to see if your current IT-project (and perhaps ITIL implementation) is likely to succeed or fail.

By now you must know that due to high failures and high cost some 30% of IT projects are cancelled outright. Research shows that of those that complete at all, 51% exceed budget by 189% and deliver only 74% functionality. This means that just around 19% of IT projects complete on time, within budget and with the features promised.

Here is the kicker to us ITSM folks – adopting IT service management practices and new ITSM software tools are also projects! And yes, research shows about the same dismal success rates for our BSM, ITSM, ITIL and tool initiatives as well.

The waste from failed IT projects is staggering and comes in at around $75 billion annually – mainly due to poor performance drivers, undisciplined project management and poor communication between IT and the business and within IT. Is there any wonder why the business is so hesitant to green light our pet IT projects? This also explains why more and more businesses are looking to project management as a means to manage IT.

The issue is that most IT managers are only vaguely aware of formal project management; it is an entire body of knowledge and skills, by the way. Many within IT usually hold project management and project managers in contempt, sometimes for good reasons. Most IT managers only come into contact with project management when the Project Management Office that “does project management to IT” shows up.

So, what is going on here? Can’t we learn what to do from those IT projects that succeed and what not to do from those IT projects that fail? Can’t we in IT learn how be successful? The answer is yes, and it is also pretty easy too.

Following is a simple tool anyone can use to help determine your chances of success or failure. While this is an “unofficial” assessment and of course incomplete, it will do the job 80% of the time and at significantly less cost than hiring a consultant to boot.

Pass or Fail?

Print this little worksheet. It has two lists of items titled “A” and “B”. Each item is worth one point. Check each situation in each column that you feel to be true for your current ITIL tool or process implementation. Check any item in “A” you also don’t quite understand and uncheck any item in “B” you don’t understand as well. Then, add up the points for both columns to see if your current IT-project (and perhaps ITIL implementation) is likely to succeed or fail.

As you might have guessed “A” represents a listing of the most common reasons for failure, and “B” for success. If your score from “A” is greater “B”, then you are more likely to fail. If “B” is less than “A” then you are more likely to succeed. The larger the difference between the two the higher the probability of success or failure. Your success with your initiatives (as you can predict above) is tied to these basic project management tenets.

If you want to get fancy use the ratio of the two to multiply the cost or budget for the project. This will show you a rough idea of the money you may lose. If your current project looks like it might fail there are proven ways to get it back on track. However, while cancellation is the last option, it is also sometimes the only option.

Pass this tool around and be sure to use it for multiple IT projects. Ask your direct reports to complete this simple tool for all their projects then you can roll-up the results into departmental or corporate level evaluations. (WARNING: the results might place you into the $75 billion waste category!)

Simple precautions and undertakings on your part can help ensure a positive and valuable ITSM tool and ITIL adoption. And again, there are proven tools, techniques and training that can help you make the call. (HINT: Examine lists “A” and “B” again and take action to correct and conform as required!)

Hank Marquis is director of IT Service Management Consulting at Enterprise Management Associates based in Boulder, Colo. Marquis has more than 25 years of hands-on experience in IT operations, management, governance and operational frameworks. Visit his blog and podcasts at www.hankmarquis.info.