Most projects start out with a grand vision for success. The client is excited, the team is optimistic, and everyone looks forward to a positive outcome. Too often, though, the best intentions collide with reality and the result is a disappointment. Projects come in late, exceed budget, or just fail to meet expectations.

It’s possible to foresee many of the potential pitfalls you’ll face during any project, but your ability to sidestep catastrophe is often decided during the early stages of your project, especially in how you staff, plan, and scope the work.

To help us understand how we can manage projects more smoothly, I asked Scott Berkun, author of Making Things Happen: Mastering the Art of Project Management, eight simple questions that I hope shed some light on how we run projects.

The interview with Berkun is in the most recent issue of Management Consulting News.

Have a look and add your ideas about what works and what doesn’t as you manage your projects.