What factors can influence the failure of the project? Explain the influence of the organization on project management.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Factors Influencing Project Failure:
Project failure can occur due to various factors, and understanding these influences is crucial for effective project management. Some key factors that can contribute to project failure include:
Inadequate planning: Insufficient or incomplete project planning can lead to scope creep, missed deadlines, and budget overruns. Lack of clarity regarding project goals, objectives, and deliverables can result in confusion and misalignment among team members.
Poor communication and collaboration: Ineffective communication within the project team, stakeholders, and other relevant parties can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and conflicts. Inadequate collaboration and coordination hinder the smooth flow of information and decision-making, affecting project progress.
Unclear or changing requirements: Unclear or constantly changing project requirements can disrupt the project’s timeline and impact its success. When requirements are not clearly defined and agreed upon, it becomes challenging to meet stakeholder expectations and deliver a satisfactory outcome.
Insufficient resources: Inadequate allocation of resources, including personnel, budget, equipment, and technology, can hinder project execution. Lack of skilled personnel or insufficient funding can limit the project’s ability to meet its objectives on time and within budget.
Poor risk management: Failure to identify, assess, and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle can result in unforeseen issues and setbacks. Inadequate risk management strategies can jeopardize project outcomes and lead to costly delays or failures.
Influence of the Organization on Project Management:
The organization plays a crucial role in project management and significantly influences its success or failure. Here are some ways in which the organization can impact project management:
Organizational culture: The culture of an organization can shape project management practices. A culture that values open communication, collaboration, and innovation tends to foster effective project management. Conversely, a culture that lacks transparency or discourages risk-taking can hinder project success.
Resource allocation: The organization’s ability to provide adequate resources, including funding, skilled personnel, and infrastructure, directly affects the execution of the project. Organizations that prioritize project management allocate resources strategically to support successful project outcomes.
Project governance: The organization’s governance structure and decision-making processes impact project management. Clear lines of authority, well-defined roles and responsibilities, and effective decision-making frameworks contribute to efficient project execution.
Supportive leadership: Strong leadership within the organization is vital for effective project management. Supportive leaders provide guidance, remove obstacles, and ensure that projects align with organizational goals and strategies. Leadership commitment to projects influences the overall project success.
Organizational structure: The organizational structure can impact communication channels, reporting lines, and decision-making authority within the project team. A flat organizational structure with clear communication pathways promotes effective project management by facilitating efficient information flow.
In conclusion, various factors can contribute to project failure, including inadequate planning, poor communication, changing requirements, insufficient resources, and poor risk management. The organization significantly influences project management through its culture, resource allocation, governance structure, leadership support, and overall organizational structure. Recognizing these influences allows project managers to proactively address potential challenges and increase the likelihood of project success.
