Introduction:

Projects rarely follow the planned trajectory from start to finish. Delays, budget overruns, unforeseen risks, and resource constraints can derail even the most well-planned projects. This 5-day training course is designed to equip project managers and teams with the skills and techniques necessary to recover a project that is off track. Participants will explore the best practices, strategies, and tools used in project recovery, focusing on how to quickly assess issues, implement corrective actions, and get a project back on track while mitigating future risks. This course will provide a mix of practical case studies, hands-on exercises, and real-world examples of successful project recovery.

Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Understand the key indicators that signal a project is in trouble and how to assess the severity of project issues.
2. Learn proven project recovery techniques to regain control over projects that are off schedule, over budget, or facing quality issues.
3. Develop the skills to re-align project goals, resources, and timelines to ensure successful project completion.
4. Gain experience in managing stakeholder expectations and communication during the recovery process.
5. Understand how to manage and mitigate risks that may arise during the recovery phase.
6. Learn how to implement effective corrective and preventive actions to avoid similar issues in future projects.

Who Should Attend:

This course is ideal for professionals who manage projects or teams in any industry, including:

• Project Managers and Coordinators
• Program Managers
• Project Control Analysts
• Risk Managers
• Construction and Engineering Managers
• Consultants and Contractors
• Senior Leaders responsible for overseeing project execution

Course Outline:

Day 1: Introduction to Project Recovery and Identifying Issues

• Session 1: Understanding Project Recovery
  • What is Project Recovery? The Importance of Addressing Problems Early
  • Key Causes of Project Failure: Schedule Delays, Budget Overruns, Quality Issues, Scope Creep
  • The Project Recovery Life Cycle: Diagnosis, Strategy Formulation, and Implementation
• Session 2: Identifying Key Warning Signs of Project Trouble
  • Analyzing Project Performance Indicators: Schedule, Budget, Quality, and Resource Allocation
  • Tools for Monitoring Project Health: Earned Value Management (EVM), Milestone Tracking, Critical Path Analysis
  • Case Study: Analyzing a Troubled Project and Identifying Signs of Trouble
• Session 3: Assessing the Severity of Project Issues
  • Risk Assessment Techniques for Troubled Projects
  • Categorizing Issues: Immediate Recovery Needs vs. Long-Term Strategic Adjustments
  • Stakeholder Analysis: How to Manage Expectations in Times of Trouble
• Activity: Group Exercise – Identifying Project Warning Signs and Analyzing Root Causes

Day 2: Corrective Actions and Realigning Project Goals

• Session 1: Corrective Action Strategies
  • Implementing Immediate Corrective Actions: Resource Reallocation, Schedule Restructuring, and Budget Adjustments
  • Quality Control and Recovery: Identifying Quality Issues and Correcting Them
  • Reversing Scope Creep: Ensuring Focus on Project Objectives and Deliverables
• Session 2: Realigning Project Goals and Objectives
  • Re-Evaluating Project Scope: Adjusting Deliverables Without Compromising Key Outcomes
  • Creating a New, Realistic Timeline and Milestones
  • Working with Stakeholders to Refine Goals and Expectations
• Session 3: Communication and Transparency in Recovery
  • Effectively Communicating with Stakeholders: Reporting Issues, Progress, and Plans
  • Managing Team Morale During Project Recovery
  • Maintaining Focus on the End Goal and Ensuring Commitment
• Activity: Workshop – Developing a Corrective Action Plan for a Troubled Project

Day 3: Risk Management and Resource Optimization

• Session 1: Risk Management During Project Recovery
  • Identifying New Risks During the Recovery Phase
  • Techniques for Risk Mitigation: Contingency Planning, Buffering, and Resource Flexibility
  • Developing a Risk Register: Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation
• Session 2: Resource Optimization for Recovery
  • Prioritizing Resources: Time, Budget, and Team Allocation
  • Leveraging Resources for Maximum Impact: Optimizing Team Performance and Equipment Utilization
  • Identifying Opportunities for Resource Cost Reduction Without Compromising Quality
• Session 3: Balancing Project Constraints During Recovery
  • The Triple Constraint: Time, Cost, and Quality
  • How to Realign the Triple Constraint in a Way that Minimizes Negative Impact
  • Tools for Managing Trade-Offs and Resource Constraints
• Activity: Group Exercise – Creating a Risk Management Plan and Resource Allocation for a Project Recovery

Day 4: Advanced Recovery Techniques and Strategies

• Session 1: Agile and Lean Recovery Techniques
  • Applying Agile Methods for Fast-Tracking Project Recovery
  • Lean Principles: Minimizing Waste and Streamlining Processes During Recovery
  • Implementing Change Management and Continuous Improvement
• Session 2: Fast-Tracking and Crashing Techniques
  • Fast-Tracking: Overlapping Phases to Accelerate Completion
  • Crashing: Adding Resources to Critical Path Activities to Speed Up Delivery
  • The Pros and Cons of Fast-Tracking and Crashing: Managing Trade-offs
• Session 3: Monitoring and Controlling During the Recovery Phase
  • Ongoing Monitoring: How to Track Recovery Progress
  • Establishing New Control Metrics and Milestones
  • Adjusting the Recovery Plan as Needed: Adapting to Changes in Project Scope or Constraints
• Activity: Case Study – Applying Fast-Tracking and Crashing to a Project Schedule

Day 5: Long-Term Strategies for Preventing Project Failure

• Session 1: Long-Term Project Health Monitoring
  • Post-Recovery: How to Maintain Project Health After Recovery
  • Implementing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to Track Long-Term Success
  • Continuously Improving Processes: Integrating Recovery Lessons into Future Projects
• Session 2: Leadership and Team Dynamics During Recovery
  • The Role of Leadership in Project Recovery: Motivating Teams and Gaining Stakeholder Support
  • Managing Cross-Functional Teams and Preventing Silos During Recovery
  • Fostering a Culture of Accountability and Responsibility
• Session 3: Learning from Recovery: Preventing Future Failures
  • Documenting Lessons Learned: Creating a Project Recovery Playbook
  • Developing Preventive Measures for Future Projects: Project Planning, Risk Management, and Early Detection Systems
  • Continuous Process Improvement: How Recovery Lessons Can Improve Organizational Practices
• Activity: Group Discussion – Building a Preventive Action Plan for Future Projects

Course Delivery:

• Interactive Sessions: In-depth discussions on recovery principles, corrective actions, and strategies for getting projects back on track.
• Case Studies: Real-world examples of troubled projects and how they were recovered, with a focus on practical solutions and lessons learned.
• Workshops: Hands-on activities that allow participants to apply recovery techniques and strategies to hypothetical project scenarios.
• Group Exercises: Collaborative problem-solving exercises to enhance decision-making skills during the recovery phase.
• Role-Playing: Practicing communication with stakeholders and teams during project recovery situations.