Every failing project starts with the best of intentions, but somewhere along the way, things fall apart. Maybe your team is having trouble communicating, or they’re missing deadlines. Suddenly, you realize things have gotten way out of hand. Fortunately, you can get help: at Project Genetics, we specialize in helping teams accomplish their project goals. Keep reading for five project recovery strategies to get your team back on track and headed for success.

5 Project Recovery Strategies That Work

1. Risk Assessment

Before you begin the process of recovering a derailed project, schedule a meeting with your team for risk assessment. Is it even possible to recover the project, or has the final deadline already passed? Are there enough resources to complete the project? Have the priorities changed enough to warrant a complete redesign? As the project manager, ask yourself those questions and pose them to your team. Ask for their feedback, then try to reach a group consensus on how to proceed.

2. Pinpoint the Root of the Problem

The next strategy is root cause analysis. Sit down with your team and examine what is causing the project to fail. Then, follow the problems until you reach the root cause. You may even find that some of the same issues have occurred on other failed projects. Once you identify the snags, brainstorm short- and long-term solutions you can apply to prevent the same problems from popping up again on future projects.

3. Use More Resources

If you have the funds, adding more resources or asking for more help can push a flagging project through to the finish line. However, spending more money will detract from overall profits. Plus, throwing money at the problem is no guarantee that the project will succeed. As a last resort, you can force overtime, but use caution: too much overtime can kill employee morale and motivation. Also, don’t forget to acknowledge your team’s efforts and celebrate their successes.

4. Try Fast Tracking

Are there any project tasks you can complete that aren’t dependent on other tasks? If so, try fast-tracking, also known as partial overlapping. With this technique, you start the new task right before the previous one is completed successfully. Ultimately, this method can streamline your to-do list and help you complete tasks more efficiently.

5. Get Some Fresh Eyes on The Project

Another strategy you can use to recover a derailing project is outsourcing. For example, you can ask another project manager for their opinion or advice on how to get the stalled project going again. Getting a new perspective on an old problem can result in fresh ideas or (hopefully) a solution.

From risk assessment to root cause analysis, these are five strategies to help you recover a failing project. If you’ve tried everything and you’re still stuck, the talented team at Project Genetics can help. We zero in on your specific needs and dedicate ourselves to helping you accomplish your project goals and ultimately achieve success. Contact Project Genetics today and schedule a complimentary 30-minute video chat with one of our team members. We look forward to hearing from you!