Insights From the Field: Project Execution Success and Failure

Project execution plays a decisive role in project success, but past research did not focus on the project manager’s perspective of what needs to be accomplished to achieve success. In this study, the authors used qualitative techniques to look for reoccurring themes related to 44project managers’ responses to interview questions associated with successful project execution and failed project execution. The study found that despite the project management profession growth, professional associations’ efforts, and their professional development endeavors, project management execution seems to be concerned with what has happened versus what is happening in a project. This study provides a conceptual framework for project execution success strategies that have implications for project management training and mentoring.