Start a recovery project to rescue a troubled project
Tom Mochal
Published: 10 Jun 2005 12:05 BST
Let's assume that the project is big enough to require a formal project turnaround. Rather than just jumping in, the first thing that needs to happen is to recognize that the work to recover the troubled project is itself a project. The rescue project has a start and an end, resources, deliverables, etc. It fits all of the classic definitions of a project. For a rescue project, you will have to take the following steps:
- Determine the current state of the troubled project
- Assess the causes of the problems
- Validate the scope of work remaining
- Make recommendations on how to rescue the troubled project by addressing the causes of the original problem
- Validate the cost, effort and duration to complete the project under its original or revised scope
- Gain sponsor approval to proceed
Once the project has been re-defined, re-estimated and re-planned (and re-approved), the project manager must focus on the newly agreed upon work and ensure that the new expectations are met. At this point, a second failure would be truly disastrous.
Previous
Did you find this article useful?
109 out of 198 people found this useful
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
