Tuhin SantraLead Engineer| Wipro TechnologiesHyderabad, Telangana, India
First you need to find out the root cause why project is under trouble & identify which factors are influencing your project. After identify the influencing factors, you need to analyze how it is affecting using tools like Why-Why Analysis. After analyze, you need to take counter measure of influencing factors(like changes 4M) to drive the project into track, so it can be 3 steps:
1. Identify the influencing factor
2. Analyze
3. Countermeasure with identified changes Saving Changes...
Currently project is in which phase? You have to go deep in all previous mail communications and minutes of meetings. See if the risk register exists or not. if yes then analyse that too. Saving Changes...
Paul AzanorProject Consultant| Lagos NigeriaIkoyi, Lagos, Nigeria
Hi Madhukar,
The PMI's frame work for problem solving can be found in chapter 8 of the PMBOK Guide.
It is the job of the Project Manager to fix things. The first option will clearly NOT be to call a meeting or run to senior management.
According to chapter 8, it will be :
1.Define the problem
2.Identify the root cause
3.Generate Solutions (Options)
4.Choose the best solution (Alternative Analysis)
5. Implement the best solution
6.Verify / Validate /Check /Confirm the best solution is working
It is more than likely that a root cause may be competency issues, watch out for team members who are good in talking but are not performing, you may choose to let them go in a very nice and polite manner.
Bring in suitable and qualified personnel. Build a strong team and commence implementing project management practices.
It may be that your organization resent people with PMP certifications, you will need to adapt a strategy of sneaking in and encouraging best practices.
Suggest things like issues log, Change logs assumption logs etc.
Wish you the best Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Focus on project objectives and goals and go for it. Saving Changes...
Start from the very first step, exactly like a new project. Review all documents, goals, objectives, plans and identify the root cause of any problem that already exists. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I would try to get an audit performed on the project. With the audit results, I would then re-plan the project. Saving Changes...
I would look a first why you were given the trouble project. You must already possess the skills, leadership, tool, techniques to bring a troubled back from the abyss. Also maybe this is your forte of helping distressed projects and putting back on track in the most appropriate manner. Sometimes a change of leadership is all that's need to remotivate a project management team as a change of leaderships brings a whole new approach to the team. First thing would be to look at the risk management process and see what risks were identified and were appropriate measures put in place to offset these risks. Also team feedback as to what reasons they think the project is troubled. Saving Changes...
Mohan KaluSenior production and operations manager| Macma PTY LTDPretoria, South Africa, South Africa
This is by far the most daunting task and by weighing the pros and cons,the big question is can it be brought back to life again or should it be scrapped??Since your question seems to be more on the positive side it looks like there is still hope to turn this around by starting on a fresh new page.Your biggest challenge is on research analysis of all the risks and constraints that has caused this project trouble so that your awareness becomes more evident as to what initially went wrong.Re-examine all the possibilities of almost all the technical,leadership and strategic skills on all rework. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
- understand why you were asked and by whom - get the orgchart and list of stakeholders - do 1:1 with all key stakeholders - list down issues they mention, see common and individual issue - only then consult project documentation - go from the list of prioritized issues, supported by documented evidence - to find solution options (at least 3) - recommend one and get approval/empowerment from your requestor Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Madhukar,
The PMBOK guidance coupled with Thomas’s “Bullseye” (i.e., right on target) recommendation should give you the necessary knowledge to get the project back on the path to success.
In my observation, distressed projects (well structured or not) are usually related to lackluster leadership when a given project is under siege from “continuous change”. In these situations, a management change is quite of the best form of change management (as alluded to by @Daire), which is why someone like you is often tapped for this honor. Saving Changes...
