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Help!! We are Sinking..
Over the past week, I pondered how to save a failing or should i say a “failed project”.
Now, in a time-constrained scenario rescuing a failing project, swift decisive actions are essential.
Below are some tips on how you can attempt to salvage that project:
1) Conduct a quick but thorough diagnosis to pinpoint critical issues. I know it sounds ironic to have “quick” and “thorough” in the same sentence, but that’s the best way I can put it.
2) Prioritize tasks based on immediate impact and feasibility. In other words, keep your attention on the delivery of critical outputs or quick wins as we call it. “Don’t go chasing waterfalls”…….. (remember that song?)
3) Implement agile methodologies for quick iterations and progress assessment. For example, on a software development or deployment project that may have been running in a waterfall manner, you may want to break the delivery into sprints, that way you can measure outputs faster whilst keeping a keen eye on what’s left to complete. It also makes program delivery board reporting easy and trackable.
4) Streamline communication channels to ensure efficient collaboration. Lean communication cannot be over-emphasized when you are in the process of salvaging a project. This is not the time for endless emails and long meetings with a stakeholder listing the length of the “River Nile” for no reason.
5) Consider allocating additional resources strategically and empower the team to make prompt decisions. While time may be limited, a focused, prioritized approach can help instigate positive changes and steer the project toward recovery.
6) Shout!!! Shout!!! Scream for help… there is no shame in seeking help. Someone may have gone through a similar path and would be willing to help.
Having said all of the above, it’s important to note that some projects are failing or failed because of other external factors that I have not mentioned. These range from stakeholder competency gaps, unclear scope, internal politics, financial reasons, change management, etc, many of which are a lot more complex to navigate. However, a very good analysis at the start should be able to identify these issues, at which point you will need to develop strategies to address them.
I’m sure some readers are still asking questions, such as: “How do I stop the drowning?”, “ how do I stop this hemorrhaging?”, well the good news is that in a few weeks to months, something interesting will be coming from this platform, so be on the lookout.
For now, I’ll leave you with this quote: “Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; they sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you and weigh you down.
Akinwande Mark-Obaba
