Why use communication training as enterprise-wide project risk mitigation tool?

Abstract

Complex enterprise-wide projects often fail even when formal project management methods are followed. Project management processes and methodologies are well defined and described in academic and business literature. There is however less published research on the human factors that are critical for project success. This paper describes the results of a study on whether project stakeholders view communication as one of the critical success factors for project success. Critical project success factors were identified from a literature study and ranked by 34 project stakeholders using a comparative analysis technique. The results were translated into a project success factor model that explains the importance of communication in project success. The results of this research project support the view that communication training across stakeholder groups should be included as an integral part of the enterprise-wide project risk mitigation tool kit.