During any form of project, one thing that you will learn is that, unfortunately, it is all too easy for a project to be derailed. But just because you have a derailing project, it doesn’t mean you can’t salvage it. Read on as we look at the five steps that you can take to rescue your project.
Step 1 -Assess any damage and identify the causes
To see exactly where your project has gone wrong, you need to conduct a thorough health check. This will help you understand the extent of any problems you have found and their impact on your budget, timeframes, and deliverables.
Use tools such as fishbone diagrams and root cause analysis in order to help you identify any underlying issues that caused the derailment. The following may be among those common causes:
· Scope or objectives that are unclear
· Poor communication
· Risk management that is inadequate
· Constraints in resources
· Events that are unforeseen
Step 2 – Communicate with stakeholders in a transparent manner
The key to any successful project begins with great communication. You need to inform stakeholders not only of the current status of the project but also of any problems that have occurred. Be transparent and honest about any challenges and emphasise that you are committed to finding solutions to ensure the project gets back on track.
Stakeholders should be involved in problem-solving to gain their support and buy-in. You should also ensure that you manage expectations clearly and communicate any revised budgets, deliverables, and timelines.
Step 3 – Re-evaluate and adjust the project plan as needed
Once you have made an assessment, you should revise your project plans, making sure you address the issues and mitigate any other potential risks. You may need to adjust the timeline, scope and potentially the budget as appropriate in order for the project to remain achievable. Where necessary, you may need to re-allocate resources with an emphasis on the critical tasks to make sure that the project has sufficient support. The project schedule should be updated, and the changes communicated to all involved.
Step 4: Implement Corrective Actions
It is important that you take immediate action in order to address the cause of the derailment. You will need to implement new APM project management processes, strategies or tools in order to improve your communication, resource allocation or risk management.
It can help to empower your team members to take ownership of the tasks they have been assigned and also for them to contribute to finding the solutions. All progress should be monitored closely, and adjustments made as needed to ensure any corrective action taken is effective.
Step 5: Focus on team morale and motivation
It is important to acknowledge any challenges that have been faced by the team. Remember to celebrate the little wins along the way. Offer encouragement and support to those team members who are feeling overwhelmed or stressed. Reward and recognise both individual and team efforts in order to boost everyone’s morale and motivation. Make sure that you are also fostering a collaborative and positive team environment that will build the resilience required in order to drive the project forward.