Why Software Projects Fail—And How to Fix Them | Episode 06

Software development is rarely straightforward. Even with experienced teams and the best intentions, projects still miss deadlines, fail to meet expectations, or get abandoned altogether. In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke explore why that happens—and what teams can do differently. They dig into the importance of real-time feedback, managing scope, and maintaining healthy communication between engineering and business units.Learn how to align vision, reduce cognitive overload, and create urgency without panic. Whether you're leading software projects or embedded in the code, these insights will help you understand where things go wrong—and how to fix them before it’s too late.Top Takeaways:Incremental value delivery is essential in software developmentUnderstanding cognitive overhead helps in prioritizationSmaller feature sets reduce team burden and improve focusIterative development allows for better market feedbackTrade-offs are inherent in software project managementReal data is necessary for effective decision-makingWaterfall methods can be limiting in fast-paced environmentsCustomer relationships can tolerate imperfect productsEmpathy between business and engineering teams enhances collaborationUnderstanding change management involves recognizing the complexities behind seemingly simple requestsBuilding trust and relationships is crucial for effective change managementSetting clear expectations can help manage the impact of changes on project timelinesCommunication is key to ensuring all parties are aligned on project goals and change.Hitting 100% of deadlines can indicate a lack of ambition in project planningMaintaining a record of agreements and changes is essential for accountabilityTeams need to understand the importance of their work to foster intrinsic motivationCreating a sense of urgency can help teams stay focused and effectiveIt's important to have open conversations about project scope and timelinesLeaders should strive to reconcile team vision with organizational objectivesConnect with us:Duncan MapesJason EhmkeDevGrid.ioDevGrid on LinkedInDevGrid on X