Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
If your project is pronounced dead, how would you write its epitaph? In other words, what would you include in the piece of note or mail that you are about to send out to all the stakeholders? Saving Changes...
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Just to add on.
Most people are good in singing praises for their projects when they have been delivered successfully. However, many people find it challenging and not sure what to include when it comes to announcing a project that has failed or cancelled. Saving Changes...
Philip HindPM II| P R Hind Consulting LtdRayleigh, Essex, United Kingdom
How about ...."Thanks to our continuous review of Project viability against the Business Case, we have decided to cancel the ABC project as it no longer fits the medium and longer term strategic objectives of the business and is therefore no longer required. Thank you all for your hard work". Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
What a great question. Phil's response is succinct and professional. I would also add, "We have been able to deploy/use/implement xyz produced by this project to date," or something similar to show what you have been able to salvage from the project. Assuming there is something that you can salvage, of course... Saving Changes...
"Alas! poor Project. I knew him, PMO; an endeavour of infinite scope, of most excellent creep; he hath borne new specs a thousand times; and now, how abhorred by the Sponsor it is!" Saving Changes...
Here lies the project. He was born with great expectations but in the end he welcomed his own death. Just as found money creates friends, ill timed sucess creates enemies. It was his own success that killed him.
or
I came, I saw, I perished in many levels of management Saving Changes...
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Thank you for all your suggestions. I especially like the one from Julien and Harold which I think they are quite creative, bold and humorous. Liz's idea to include 'what you can salvage' is interesting too. I think we should also include a list of people to thank for their contributions to the project.
Looking forward to see more interesting suggestions. Saving Changes...
Andy HesseyDirector| AHmedia (Project Management) LtdCrawley, United Kingdom
Simply ... "That's another fine mess you got us into" ...
Saving Changes...
Renee GalligherIT Project Manager 3, PMP, ICP| Idaho State Board of EducationMeridian, Id, United States
A dead project is not necessarily bad. It could be cancelled because in the initiating phase it was determined that there was a better solution outside of a structured project. So that's good - better to find it in the initiating phase. A dead project could be one that is cancelled for lack of funding. Whatever the reason, the announcement should go to all stakeholders and should explain clearly the reason that the project has been closed and give your stakeholders the opportunity to come to you with their concerns and questions. If this is a high profile project, then the news should be in person and in a roundtable format. And in closing, remember to document that the project was closed with a formal written process. Saving Changes...
Wai Mun KooPMO Director| Intergraph PP&MSingapore, Singapore
Well said Renee, I couldn't agree more. I have seen people who tried hard to keep a low profile to a failed project just because they are afraid of the overwhelming negative remarks and pressure from others. Saving Changes...
Shoaib AhmedProgram Manager| Eagle Technology GroupWellington, New Zealand
Not all stopped projects are failures. If you start a project with the business case that will deliver a benefit do x, if for whatever reason (technology paradigm shift, over ambitious business case etc) you determine benefits cannot be achieved then canceling the project is the best outcome you can achieve. Saving Changes...
