In theory the solution is simple – provide adequate resources of people, time and money. In practise this is often restrictive and difficult. However, there are options.
The first step is a Project Review to find out where you are. The review will enable you to look strategically at the project and decide on a number of options that could improve the current situation. With hindsight certain aspects/decisions may have been done differently.
Some ideas
- The scope has changed – on long projects the scope “creeps”. This is simply a reaction to business change which is naturally occurring, in fact it is crucial to the well-being of the company that it does occur
- A decision was not made when it should have been. Either it was postponed or, with hindsight, the wrong path was taken.
- Your team is only as good as its weakest link; underperforming or ineffective team members may have to be removed or replaced.
- If the project comprises multiple phases, buildings, divisions, etc, the contract can be broken up and reset – new projects, new teams, new start dates.
- This could limit overall damage by restricting the work done by litigious parties and increase the client team by bringing in new consultants on the process.
- One problem to be aware of – if it is decided that the works should be broken up – attention to detail is required to ensure that there are no areas of scope where the consultants have no liability.
- The new teams take the load of the existing team, leaving them to resolve the original contract. Their efforts will become more productive as they can now focus.
- Introduce an online hub and take photographs of every inch on a weekly basis so that the contractor is held to account to his current programme.
- Call in a specialist to resolve the problem.