The impact of soft skills as a panacea for project failure in ICT projects at selected Telecom companies

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to empirically explore the explanations for project failure in ICT projects that are implemented by qualified Engineers at selected Telecom companies. The study was designed to identify the role played by hard (technical) skills in project management as well as the benefits of focusing on soft skills on the execution of projects. Some of the literature presented that through the management and application of the projects soft skills by project managers may actually be a recipe for the project success. Hence, an important underpinning of this study was that the project manager can enhance project success (or reduce the impact of failure) by identifying and prioritising stakeholders, develop and implement strategies for engaging and communicating with them. The participants were drawn from program managers, project managers, project administrators, Engineers and technicians that are working in ICT projects from different Telecommunication companies. The questionnaire was emailed individually by the researcher to directly to the selected potential respondents. Two key factors emerged from the survey questionnaire, Firstly, the need for soft skills to be incorporated in project management curriculum and education programs, and secondly, that successful projects are delivered through the management and application of the projects soft skills.