Building a project to last

One of the limitations of many IT-related programs is that there is a horrid underestimation of what it takes to execute a project to its fullest extent. This means that projects are often delay or wholly abandoned because the innovation ideas exceed the capability to deliver. People envision what could be possible, rather than plan for what is realistically possible. Dare to dream, however if we are to reasonably deliver public and population health interventions and tools, we need to balance innovation with realism.

But how do we do this? One is to consult, and consult widely with people that know technology and know its limitations. Secondly, talk to those people who will use the technology. The problem facing many IT interventions is that they are ahead of their time and the average person is incapable of deriving the benefit from it. The third and possibly most important part is creating a shared vision that both developers and end users can agree on for a project and developing a workplan that reflects this shared vision. It is not an easy thing to do, but it is simple enough that, with some careful planning, can be done and done well.