Overcoming obstacles in project execution

'Extra complexity is often a mistake. People will sometimes gravitate to a 'safe' approach where they are implementing some control or security technology because everyone else is doing it – or in some cases because it's what they've seen before or done in the past. The trap in doing this is this doesn't require them to ask the bigger, harder, tougher questions. For example, just because something hasn't happened that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future. Security architects need to answer the question of how controls they put in place add value – this requires a change in attitude and approach.'

– Phoram Mehta, director and head of Infosec APAC, PayPal

It's a truism of project management that unexpected events can bring about delays, budgetary shortfalls, resourcing challenges, and other unwanted outcomes. More rarely (though perhaps less rarely than we...