And for a cynical start to a lousy year, have a real-world summary of how projects work...

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/1/28/32622/4244

Most textbooks and methodology guides start with statistics proving that software projects are disastrously prone to failure. I'll take that for granted.

They then propose complicated rules designed for a fantasy business world where cooperative workers idealistically work towards the common goal of maximizing shareholder value.

A couple of weeks in a typical office should disabuse you of that. Real world companies are made up of individuals working for their own goals: career advancement, more money, or just the chance to slack off. Occasionally it may be in someone's interest to build a successful project. Usually it's more useful to sabotage it.

A lot of it is IT/software related but the majority can apply to pretty much any project...

I agree....