Some 725 respondents participated in our May 2008 online survey that included four key questions, the first of which was: What is one important lesson that you've learned to develop a successful project?

The responses to this question were scattered around a handful of topics, especially centering on communications, proper planning, and having the right personnel. Here are 12 responses (edited for clarity) from among the dozens and dozens of responses we received:

• Teamwork is key, especially on a tight deadline. Listen to the advice of others.
• Communicate - this cannot be overstated.
• Involve all levels of the company.
• For successful implementation, you must collect the right data and work with the right people while communicating what needs to happen.
• The more details, the better!
• Be certain all affected areas (stakeholders) are linked in early to the project and are aware of its impact.
• Listen, listen, listen, and then listen some more.
• The planning is important, but the execution is more important.
• Pay particular attention to the smallest details.
• Define the goal of the project early and stick to it. Don't keep changing the project as it goes—the project will get bogged down if expectations are continually changed, and it may never see fruition. After the project is completed, start new ones that have arisen from the ideas of the previous project.
• Budget time for fixing the unavoidable surprises, failures, mistakes, and all the other little things that conspire against even the best planned project.
• Without a powerful team approach, the plan is just a piece of paper.