What is your biggest challenge to running profitable projects

Question

Over the years, I've seen all kinds of reasons for why projects - large and small - ended up going financially sideways. Some are upfront, in the middle and maybe some are at the end. Some issues were more common with large or small projects. And yet, some stand out.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

Answer 1

Normally a project is conducted to drive efficiencies, increase productivity, increase automation, or reduce headcount and this in turn will increase profitability by decreasing operational cost. Increase profitability is rarely the primary reason why a project is implemented as the return on investment could take many years to be realized.

 Projects are implemented based on long term objective and increased profitability can be an expected outcome if the original objectives of the project are realized.

 Also locking in profitability on a balance sheet before a project is implemented could doom the project before it started and set unrealistic goals.