Could you identify three major cause of project delay?

1. Poor estimation (Estimations chouldn't include skill level of team members, and not well thought through)

2. Interdependancies couldn't complete as planned

3. Poor quality of work (Critical Defects, issues found during the last phase of testing or during user adoption testing)

As part of the readiness assessment prior to any go live, there are many factors to consider. The most typical issues that may cause a delay in a project:

1.     Readiness of the infrastructure, stability of the tool and/or slow performance

2.    Unsuccessful testing cycles with open showstopper or business essential issues

3.    End-users adoption to new changes and insufficient training that may cause major impact on the business

There are mitigation steps to be considered prior to the end of any milestone as part of the phases sign off.

Three major causes may be :

1. Lack of Planning : Projects normally delay due to lack of planning. Goals and objectives are not carefully defined.

2. Lack of Communication : Goals and objectives of the project and procedures and policies are not clearly communicated to the team members.

3. Lack of Co-ordination : Team members physically work togather but lack team spirit.

I would table:

1 - Lack of requirements management - Not clearly defining the scope and allowing scope change or creep can have a direct impact on project durations

2 - Ineffective resource/cost forecasting - Not having the clear budgets and dedicated resource plans in place througout the project directly affect timescales. A common pitfall is not planning enough buffer/contingency to cater for unexpected loses in either which, when combined with the ineffective requirements management, can cause projects timelines to spiral.

3 - Lack of communication/stakeholder management - As a result of the aforementioned challenges, mis-setting of stakeholder expectations or letting them set their own expectations can result in artificial or uncommunicated deadlines. 

1- Lack of support from senior management/sponsor

2- The project could be too risky to initiate

3-  there is no enough resources to run the project

1. Finance (including unpredictable cost escalations)

2.  Delay inAnticipated Governement sanctions (including red-tapism if any)

3. Labour unrest/Natural calamities/Unfavourable global conditions. 

(Many other things answered by experts also....I value their opinion and thoughts)

Scope creep

wrong estimate

not identify the risk

There are numerous reason for project delays as it depends on situations, Majors can be listed as follows:

- Wrong Estimate of project completion

- Communication Gap between Project teams [may also include Managements]

- Wrong or poor resource selection for the project

1- poor planning

2- personal qualification or skills not sufficient

3- poor quality 

4- bad management

In proper project plan

No time management

no initial identification of risk that comes during project 

No proper cordination with client and team

No proper resouce (items, team members, documentation, etc...) available on time to complete the project

taking lot time in sending awarded/selected final proposal to vendor ti start project

Agreed with both answers given by Mr.:Muhammad Siddiqui & Mr.:Salauddin Mohammed too