I agree. Client's participation is required. Without client's participation, a project or program will be headed down a path to failure. Absolutely, and affects the following areas.


Senior management's support and commitment are required. Without that commitment the project is sure to become troubled and may fail. Customers, users and SMEs' participation and involvement are required and without impacts getting users participation in focus groups, pilots, etc. to provide input or feedback, including feedback on prototypes and mockups early in the development process.

Knowledge transfer (with open communication) must be ongoing. Knowledge that is shared through full participation (and involvement) by stakeholders: customer/clients, SMEs, and users as team members. Team building should include client representatives.

Knowledge transfer occurs through several project or program activities:
- Team membership with participation by all required stakeholders (including
customers, SMEs, users, and third party vendors and subcontractors, etc.).
- Inexperienced, experienced or seasoned team members working together,
collaborating, sharing with open communication.
- Business SMEs' interaction with technical team members and technical
team members interacting with Business SMEs.
- Shared lessons learned that were documented after each
phase/processes, activity and major tasks. Lessons learned must be
documented and applied/used during the execution of the current project
and archived for use on future projects and programs.