A Zombie Project is a project that continues to exist despite lacking clear objectives, funding, or value. These projects often linger due to organizational inertia, political reasons, or sunk cost fallacy—where stakeholders hesitate to kill a project because of the resources already invested.
Characteristics of a Zombie Project:
- No clear business value or ROI.
- Keeps consuming resources but lacks meaningful progress.
- Low engagement from team members.
- No defined end date or deliverables.
Examples:
- A company continues developing an outdated product because leadership is hesitant to abandon it.
- An IT project misses multiple deadlines and still receives funding despite constant delays.
How to Deal with Zombie Projects:
✔ Conduct a thorough project review to assess viability.
✔ Use data-driven decision-making to determine whether to continue or kill the project.
✔ Communicate realistic expectations with stakeholders to avoid unnecessary prolongation.
Challenges in Killing a Zombie Project:
⚠ Political resistance from leadership.
⚠ Emotional attachment to the effort invested.
⚠ Fear of admitting failure or wasted resources.
