If you have ever handled a project, it is easy to take up another one and apply your experience to make it successful. However, sometimes, projects do not always go according to plan. Certain elements may contribute to the failure of a project, requiring you to start all over again. In the past year alone, 70% of companies recorded at least one project failure that required returning to the drawing board. You may be lucky to notice the weak areas and take steps to turn things around just in time. If that is your peculiar case, these steps may help.
In any work environment, it is common for people to shift blame for failed projects. Indeed, nobody wants to be associated with failure, which explains why the blame game occurs. However, it will be the wrong thing to do when attempting to turn a failing project around. The blame game is a time waster and only breeds contempt and indifference. This is why a better option is to put that energy into correcting the mistakes that may have contributed to the situation.
The most important thing now is to draw new timelines for the project. This is essential because sticking to the old timeline can cause delays and undesirable outcomes. Moreover, a new timeline allows you to create additional room for new strategies. Generally, everyone involved in the project is expected to draw individual timelines per their tasks. This should feed into the general project timeline. With all minds engaged, it reduces the chances of looking for someone to shift the blame onto.
Effective communication is effective for every project. Without it, there is a great risk of everything turning out wrong. Communication enhances progress, aligns team members’ project goals, and reduces conflict. With a failing project however, there is a great need for your communication channels to be revised. Perhaps, project team members did not receive status reports, which may have contributed to the current mishap. Fortunately, a restrategised communication plan has the potential to become the bonding element for project members.
Another important thing to do is to keep communication lines smooth and open. A better strategy is to effectively use horizontal and vertical communication approaches. The former encourages open communication between members at the same hierarchical level. A vertical approach tackles a top to bottom communication approach. The objective is to encourage proper dissemination of information on all levels. This is crucial for turning things around, as everyone is regularly informed on changes in the project cycle.
A failing project means something is not going right and needs to be identified as soon as possible. According to project management data, a lack of proper strategic leadership contributes largely to failed projects. Other causes are delays, poorly planned budgets, lack of team morale, and conflict. Sometimes also, the cause is a poorly-planned project from the get-go. Unfortunately, the latter is common and responsible for several failed projects. In your case, however, you can turn things around before it gets out of hand.
The exciting fact is you have a rare opportunity to identify problem areas before the completion of the project. The first step to correcting a wrong is identifying the things that may have caused it. However, identifying the problem is only part of what you are expected to do. The other steps you must take are analyzing, resolving, and setting mitigating measures to avoid falling into the same trap. For example, if the problem came from a lack of proper transport assessment, it would be time to revisit the complex processes it involves. It is better to go back to the drawing board to resolve such challenges, often inimical to projects.
Budget, time, and people are three crucial resources for any project. Together, they have the potential to ensure project success. When a project is failing midway, it is vital to reassess these three areas. You may need more hands on board to handle the project. If that is the case, a quicker way to turn things around is to find specialists. Indeed, this will depend on the type of project you’re working on. Apart from experienced hands, you will need to pump in more money to support all the renewed strategies embarked upon.
Sometimes, finding that additional money can be a problem, especially when it is a loan. You will have a huge responsibility to prove why you need more money to support a failing project. Then again, time is crucial and can determine how successful the project will be when completed. Remember to set new timelines to give you and the team another chance to get the project back on track.
