Project rescue – a simple guide

A project rescue is a structured approach to save a failing project. Your project fails when quality, scope, budget, or schedule does not meet expectations. It can also fail because the business case no longer stacks up. Projects exist to implement strategy so a project rescue saves your strategy and maybe your business or your job. A project rescue is an opportunity to realise some or all of the value you saw in the original project.

Step 1 – Identify that you need a project rescue

Lots of people miss this step. Sometimes they spend millions of dollars first. Don’t be one of those people. Here are a few signs that your project may need one of these:

• Poor or no project governance
• No or unclear objectives, lack of project structure
• No milestones for delivery or clear reports on progress
• Unclear budgeted and actual costs and resources
• Costs exceed budget without approval
• Work done exceeds scope
• Poor communication – different views of what the project is doing and will do
• Milestones exist but they are being missed
• There is frequent conflict in the team and/or with stakeholders
• Key stakeholders do not support the project
• Deliverables are missed or appear unlikely to be met

A project rescue can save a failing project but only if action is taken in time.

Step 2 – Address the situation immediately

As the Project Sponsor, take action as soon as you have identified that the project is failing. Appoint an experienced person to take charge of the project rescue. Meet with the team and introduce the Project Rescue lead. Let the Project Rescue lead brief the team. They can take immediate steps to stop things getting worse and get a better picture of the situation. Ensure the project team and the project manager (if still engaged) understand that the Project Rescue lead is taking charge.

Step 3 – Rapid analysis of the project current state

The Project Rescue lead will conduct a rapid analysis which will include tasks such as:

• Review the project objectives and business case (if there is one)
• Review all key project documentation
• Talk with staff, project team members, partners, stakeholders and any other key parties to get a full range of perspectives
• Look at the methodology and approach of the project. Was it fit for purpose? Was it followed properly?
• Look at the quality of project products/deliverables? Do they reflect the effort expended?
• Review the skills and behaviours of the people involved in the project.\
• Benchmark the data and perspectives gathered against good practice and experience
• Present an analysis of the issues and the prospects of rescuing the failing project

4 Agree the path forward

The Project Sponsor and Project Rescue lead then need to agree the way forward. If the project is deemed recoverable there will need to be some clear parameters set for the project rescue. That may include revised estimates of time, cost, scope and quality and a better-informed risk profile for the project. It may be that the organisation now pays more than originally expected to actually receive less – but with a higher likelihood of success. If you abandon the project you need to make decisions right away to exit at the lowest possible costs. You then need to decide what to do next.

5 Implement the project rescue plan

If you decide to rescue the project then agree a clear terms of reference. Create a new Project Charter and a new project management approach. Every project is different and needs to be assessed in the context of your organisation.

We are very experienced in project rescue and we can act quickly and discreetly to perform a rapid analysis of your situation. It may not be as bad as you think but if you don’t act in a timely manner, it could get a lot worse. We welcome enquiries and any initial discussion is free of charge.

Phil Guerin, Consultant/Director, Hague Consulting Ltd. © Hague Consulting Ltd 2024. If you like this content, subscribe to our blog – it’s free!

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