It is common to describe a troubled project as a "Runaway Project," just like one would describe a train that cannot be stopped. There is more resemblance than initially meets the eye between projects and trains. Unlikely you say? This article about projects and project management will prove to you otherwise.
Trains and projects have a lot in common. Even though a project as an abstract concept seems very different from a train, there can be many similarities between the two. Therefore, it should not be surprising that one can use the same terms to describe circumstances surrounding both trains and projects.
Both trains and projects have tight schedules. Projects in today’s world are put on aggressive schedules to meet important deadlines. Both projects and trains need to be “on track” to reach their destination. A project on track means that it is on time, within budget, and meeting scope and quality requirements. However, similar to trains, projects sometimes go “off track”, which means they are late, or not heading towards their chartered objectives. This can be a disaster in the making for a project or a train alike. When a train goes off track, people might be hurt, the train cannot continue its trip, misses its deadline, and cannot proceed towards its destination. The same applies to projects. Also, when trains go off track, it might be due to a technical problem, or due to intentional sabotage, by people whose goals and objective are not in line with the owners of the train, or with the destination that the train is heading to. However, in projects, technical issues are less likely to put projects off track. Instead, often people-related problems throw projects off track. These people might have incompatible goals with the project or have their own hidden agendas, or, they might be trying to resist the change that will occur if the project reaches its goal. After all, for the organization, projects are the primary “vehicle” for change. This is yet another similarity.
Steam trains need to “build steam,” in preparation for the start of the journey. Projects build steam during planning. If not enough “steam” is built, the project cannot reach its destination. The plan is a roadmap that describes the project objectives, goals, deliverables, approach, and much other important information that will assist in the appropriate “steering” of the project towards its successful completion. Ironically, most organizations are worried about spending too much time planning on a project. This is often due to anxiousness to start working and a perception that planning does not have any real value. To minimize chances of project failure, organizations who have the maturity in delivering successful projects adopt a positive mentality towards planning. To them, planning might be the most important element to a project. During planning, the roadmap for execution is set and a proactive scheme is formulated in anticipation for opportunities and risks that might encounter the project. The solid plan will result in exploiting the opportunities that improve the chances of project success and mitigating the risks that have the potential to throw the project off the success track.
“Runaway” trains are a scary thought. So are “runaway” projects. Runaway means out of control. A runaway project, like a runaway train, is out of control and heading for disaster. Whether you are facing a runaway project or train: run for your life. Both are a dangerous proposition. So, no matter what the reward is, do not get on a mission to stop either one without the proper tools and resources. Especially after they have built momentum and have been out of control for a long while, stopping runaway vehicles is almost impossible.
A runaway train ends up in many cases in a “wreck,” so does a runaway project unfortunately. However, it is important to carry an investigation to learn the causes of the disaster so we can prevent such failures in the future. Many project wrecks go uninvestigated, wasting an excellent opportunity to learn from previous mistakes. The reason usually, just as in train wrecks, is worry about blame games and political motives driving the investigation.
Fortunately, the trains of today’s world are among the safest forms of transportation. Passengers, in most regions of the world, ride without the least worry on their mind about something going wrong. On the other hand, one wishes that the same could be said about projects. Many projects fail to meet their chartered objectives, and most of them end late and over budget. Just like the train industry, people one day will master projects management just as they mastered trains and train systems, and they will be able to have a higher confidence in their projects achieving their desired results and reaching their destinations safely.
