Are all IT projects successful? Have you ever witnessed a software development project fail? According to the 2022 study “Krytyczne czynniki sukcesu i porażki projektów IT w Polsce”:
- 33% of projects failed
- 21% of projects were successful
- 46% were partially successful
A successful project is one that meets its deadline, stays within budget and scope, and satisfies the customer. This means that fewer than one in four IT projects in Poland can be considered truly successful. So, what causes project failure—and how can it be avoided?
Common Reasons for Project Failure
Many studies, including the well-known Chaos Report by The Standish Group, have examined typical causes of IT project failure. While team composition, project methodology, and project type play important roles, problems related to business requirements are equally critical. Common pitfalls include:
- Unclear Requirements — Ambiguity around what’s expected can lead to misunderstandings, rework, delays, and ultimately, failure.
- Scope Creep — Adding features or tasks beyond the original plan increases costs, extends timelines, and disrupts delivery.
- Poor Communication — Miscommunication, lack of transparency, and infrequent updates reduce team cohesion and cause misalignment with stakeholders.
- Unclear Goals — Without a clear vision, teams risk building software that doesn’t create real business value.
Business Process Analysis: The Key to Success
So how can you avoid these pitfalls? One proven method is Business Process Analysis (BPA). BPA is a structured approach to analyzing “AS-IS” and “TO-BE” processes, visualizing workflows, and identifying opportunities for improvement. It helps detect inefficiencies, resolve pain points, and align operations with strategic goals.
How BPA Helps Overcome Key Challenges
Here’s how BPA addresses the most common failure points:
- Clarifies Requirements — By engaging stakeholders and mapping out business workflows, BPA ensures everyone shares a clear understanding of the process. This minimizes inconsistencies and facilitates better decision-making.
- Defines Project Scope — BPA provides a high-level view of end-to-end processes, making it easier to define a comprehensive and realistic project scope.
- Improves Communication — Visual tools like process maps allow stakeholders to analyze each activity clearly and contextually, reducing misunderstandings.
- Sets Clear Goals — By identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks, BPA helps define measurable business needs that can be directly translated into software requirements. This ensures that the final product aligns with real business objectives.
Real-World Example: E-Commerce Platform
Imagine a company launching a new e-commerce platform for a T-shirt brand. The business team uses BPA to analyze the current order process and finds bottlenecks—like challenges with the payment gateway. By including customer service reps and actual users in the analysis, they discover pain points and expectations related to payment options. These insights are then translated into specific business goals and software requirements, leading to a better user experience and increased customer satisfaction.
Conclusion: Business Process First
As this example shows, Business Process Analysis is essential during the early stages of any software development initiative—especially before the project officially begins. From clarifying business needs to minimizing failure risks, BPA provides the foundation for building effective, efficient, and goal-aligned software solutions.
