Projects fail. While some projects fail to achieve the desired goal despite considerable efforts, others fail long before this happens. The majority of the projects that have been started simply fall asleep. You can reanimate these projects! We show you how it works!
Reasons for hibernators
- No project management: The project runs on the side and there is no one who regularly challenges the procedure and the status quo. The focus is lost and other things become more important. Often a project without leadership is simply forgotten...
- Lack of goals and measurably: Everyone starts with the new project. But there seems to be no end in sight... because no goal has been defined and it is not measurable either. This is usually an absolute motivation killer and the project starts its way into eternal hibernation.
- Lack of resources: Everyone is on fire for the project. But the resources are not there. The beginning has been made - but it doesn't go on. There is hardly anything frustrating. The project is paused - once paused it develops an inertia that can only be rarely overcome again.
- Priority spiral: The project has priority 1 and is getting off to a good start. But suddenly there are some fires to put out. The project drops in priority. Once it is in downward mode, such a project develops a kind of acceleration and continues to sink.
Second spring?
But what can you do to lift a project out of the closet? The most important thing is preparation - and by that we mean both before and after falling asleep.
0. Create a basis
Projects that fall asleep have to be actively stopped or paused. Only then is the basis for a reanimation created. The sentence "we continue... if there is time" is not allowed for projects.
1. Causer > symptom
The best thing, of course, is if you manage to get the top polluters under control a priori. Try to only start projects whose goals, management and resource requirements are clear not only to you, but also to everyone else. Implement a reporting cycle (e.g. every two weeks) and bring all participants together regularly to compare plan and reality.
2. Changelog
Nevertheless, even the best prepared project can fall asleep. But your good preparation helps enormously with the reanimation. You have unconsciously prepared a changelog.
The changelog shows what the plan was, who was involved, how far you got, when and why the project was paused. When you want to get started again, save valuable time and avoid annoying project archaeology. You can start right where you left off. This considerably increases the probability of a successful reanimation!
3. Reanimation and communication cycle
A changelog also helps you enormously to remember forgotten projects at all. If you keep a small list of all paused projects and their goals, this is the Deluxe version. Now you can get together with everyone every 6-8 months and discuss which of the paused projects should start again. The joint decision and central communication is an absolute key factor!
By the way: such a deluxe changelog is also absolutely great to avoid having to reinvent the wheel. Projects often result from problems. If you already have solutions ready, you will save valuable time.
4. Switcheroo
If you want a project to start again, don't be afraid to change something. Treat the old project as a virgin. Reschedule if necessary. Check resource and management needs and change the scope. So it may still be the old project - but adapted to the new situation. Because only rarely have the prerequisites remained the same.
5. Accountability
Create clear responsibilities. The easiest way, by the way, is to make the adjustment of the old plan directly with the members bottom-up. So everyone is involved in the project before the implementation starts.
6. Re-Kickoff
You know, projects usually have a kickoff. But again started projects mostly not. In passing it is decided to start again. A cardinal mistake. Organize a normal kickoff. Everyone comes together and the project starts (again).
Falcon can help you!
Of course we try to anchor all possibilities of reanimation firmly in Falcon. Per se it is the case that no project content is lost in Falcon. Your changelog is always there and available at the push of a button. Even re-planning is easy with Falcon's bottom-up functionality. Are you interested in learning how to design projects with Falcon? Talk to us: info@nordantech.com.