Turning Around a Failing Project

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Abstract
Projects that have failed are often assigned to a different project manager. Knowing how to approach such a project is not always apparent. This article discusses the elements necessary in approaching the failed project, which include:

• Considerations: What hard questions to ask.
• Root cause analysis: How to determine what caused the project to fail.
• Deciding if it is a lost cause: It may be that the project needs to be discarded.
• Moving forward with the completion of the project: How to orchestrate the team.
• Negotiating new project parameters: How to redefine scope of work, budget, and schedule moving forward.
• Soft skills of managing the project team: Team members need special handling.

Objective
This article is designed to explore tools and techniques to use when stepping into a project that has failed or is in the process of failing.

Backdrop
All projects, by their definition, have a beginning and an ending. What takes place in the middle determines success or failure. If you are brought into a project that is in trouble, it is important to rally the tools and resources necessary to deliver the project scope of work (SOW). This document will explore what to look for, what to consider, how to approach stakeholders and how to determine the chance of success or failure before taking on the project.

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