Programme in Project Management

Why Do Projects Fail? Four Common Causes Every Project Manager Should Know
Part 1: The Critical Role of Stakeholder Engagement

Projects rarely fail because people aren't working hard.

In my experience, project teams are usually committed and capable. Yet projects still overrun their budgets, miss deadlines, or fail to deliver the expected benefits.

Why?

Over many years of teaching, researching, and practising in project management, I've found that four common issues appear repeatedly:

• Ineffective stakeholder engagement
• No structured project management methodology
• Beginning ex*****on before the project scope is properly defined
• Poor control of changes to scope (scope creep)

Over the coming weeks, I'll explore each of these topics. Let's begin with stakeholder engagement.

One of the first responsibilities of a project manager is to identify stakeholders and engage with them as early as possible.

Effective stakeholder engagement isn't just about communicating project updates. It starts by understanding:

• Who the stakeholders are
• What they expect from the project
• How much influence they have over the project
• How the project will affect them

Not every stakeholder requires the same level of engagement.

A practical way to prioritise stakeholders is to ask:

• How much influence do they have over the project?
• How much interest do they have in the project?

Those with both high influence and high interest should be engaged early and remain closely involved throughout the project.

Before your next project begins, ask yourself:

• Have I identified all the key stakeholders?
• Have I assessed their influence and interest?
• Do I have a plan to engage them throughout the project?

Taking the time to answer these questions early can prevent many of the issues that cause projects to struggle later.

This article forms part of the Project Management Insights series. The first four articles are based on the insights and extensive experience of Prof Herman Steyn. These practical project management principles are explored in greater depth in the University of Pretoria's Online Short Course on Project Management Principles, Practices and Scheduling.

📖 Read the full article:
https://projectmanagementsa.co.za/blog/project-management/why-projects-fail-part-1-stakeholder-engagement

Learn more about the University of Pretoria's Online Short Course on Project Management Principles, Practices and Scheduling:
https://projectmanagementsa.co.za/courses/online-short-course-on-project-management-principles-practices-and-scheduling

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." — Robert Collier

In 1978, James Dyson became frustrated with a problem most people simply accepted: vacuum cleaners gradually lost suction as their bags filled with dust.

While visiting a sawmill, he noticed a large cyclone system that separated dust from the air. It sparked an idea: what if the same principle could be used inside a vacuum cleaner to eliminate the need for bags altogether?

The concept was simple. Making it work was anything but.

Over the next 15 years, Dyson built 5,127 prototypes. There were financial struggles, setbacks, and plenty of people who doubted he would succeed. Yet every failed prototype taught him something new and brought him one step closer to the solution.

Today, Dyson is recognised around the world for innovation. But his success wasn't built on one breakthrough—it was built on thousands of small improvements, persistence, and the willingness to keep learning when things didn't go as planned.

It's a reminder that meaningful progress rarely happens overnight. Whether you're leading a project, developing a new skill, or working towards a personal goal, consistent effort often makes the biggest difference.

What does it take to deliver successful projects in today's increasingly complex environment?

It takes more than meeting deadlines. Today's project managers are expected to lead teams, engage stakeholders, manage risks and budgets, navigate contracts, and deliver successful outcomes.

The Programme in Project Management (PPM) is designed to help project professionals develop the practical knowledge and skills needed to meet these challenges with confidence. Presented by experienced lecturers and led by Dr Corro van Waveren, the programme combines theory with real-world application to help delegates deliver successful projects.

On successful completion, delegates receive a University of Pretoria Certificate and can earn:

• 160 PDUs – PMI®
• 96 CPD Hours (Category A Core) – SACPCMP
• 5 CPD Points – ECSA
• 5 CPD Points – SACNASP

Upcoming intakes:

🗓️ PPM Midweek (Contact): 3 August 2026
🗓️ PPM Online: 17 August 2026
🗓️ PPM Weekender (Contact): 16 October 2026

💬 Here's what one of our delegates had to say:

"Very practical and applicable, especially in real-world project environments. I have been able to apply what I learned. It is not just theory, but something I use in the projects I work on personally as well."

— Danalene Pillay, Best Student, PPM Online 1 of 2025

🎥 Watch Danalene's full testimonial and hear from other PPM delegates who share how the programme has helped them apply their learning in the workplace:
https://projectmanagementsa.co.za/alumni/testimonials

📖 Learn more about the Programme in Project Management or register for an upcoming intake:
https://projectmanagementsa.co.za/

Project Management Course | University Of Pretoria | PPM Leaders in project management for more than 30 years with lectures that are accredited by PMI in the USA. Top chosen course by South African students.

"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way."
— Unknown

On Father's Day, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, father figures, and mentors whose wisdom, kindness, and quiet strength make a meaningful difference every day.

Your guidance brings confidence in times of uncertainty, your encouragement inspires growth, and your love leaves a lasting legacy that extends far beyond your own family.

Thank you for the example you set, the values you pass on, and the positive impact you have on the lives of others.

Wishing all fathers and father figures a wonderful Father's Day filled with love, appreciation, and meaningful moments with those who matter most.

YOUR ORGANISATION MAY BE SITTING ON A GOLDMINE OF KNOWLEDGE — SO WHY ISN'T IT BEING USED?

Knowledge repositories are designed to capture and preserve valuable organisational knowledge, yet many struggle with low adoption and limited practical use.

Research by Renisha Nikeyi and Corro van Waveren explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can help address this challenge. The study highlights the potential of AI-driven interaction, automation, search and retrieval, pattern recognition, and decision support to make knowledge easier to find, easier to access, and more useful in everyday work.

The research suggests that AI can not only improve the usability and accessibility of knowledge repositories, but also increase awareness of the knowledge they contain and employees' motivation to use them.

The key takeaway? AI is most effective when it complements human expertise rather than replaces it. A collaborative human–AI approach can help organisations unlock the full value of their knowledge repositories while supporting more effective knowledge management strategies.

Read the full paper:
https://projectmanagementsa.co.za/blog/adhoc-articles/leveraging-artificial-intelligence-to-enhance-the-use-of-the-knowledge-repository-an-engineering-consulting-view