Project Failure Files: Underestimating the Links Between Projects

In Episode 60 of the Project Failure Files weekly webcast, our focus was “Overlooking the Domino Effect,” in which Sharon and I explore the often invisible yet highly disruptive “domino effect” that can derail even the best-planned projects. When multiple initiatives run concurrently—especially in large organizations—ignoring interdependencies can result in clashing deadlines, resource bottlenecks, and wasted efforts. We highlighted how small oversights, like a delayed approval or a missing integration, can ripple through the system and cause delays in unrelated teams.

We discussed the dangers of siloed planning, inconsistent tooling, and unclear escalation paths, all of which can make these chain reactions worse. Personal examples illustrate everything from global product launches delayed by a missed compliance step to marketing teams promoting features that weren’t ready. A major cause is leadership underestimating cross-project connections, or failing to interpret reports and capacity constraints—often relying too heavily on familiar high-performers.

To help avoid these pitfalls, Sharon and I offered practical strategies like dependency mapping, coordinated sync meetings, shared dashboards, and dedicated “dependency liaison” roles. We emphasized that visibility and communication are key to staying ahead of cascading problems. Whether you lead a project, manage resources, or oversee a portfolio, this episode offers clear steps to reduce risk and keep your teams aligned.

Enjoy the episode!

Be sure to tune in next Monday, October 13th at 9am Pacific for a program update on our weekly series. Hope you can join us on our NEW YouTube channel (please subscribe!), or find us on LinkedIn.