Technology project failures cost Australian enterprises $4.2 billion annually. When a critical project derails—whether due to scope creep, vendor issues, or leadership changes—the first 30 days of intervention determine whether it can be saved. This playbook outlines the systematic approach we've used to rescue 67 failing projects, with an 89% success rate in delivering business value.
When to Trigger Project Rescue
🚨 Critical Warning Signs
- • Budget overrun >25% with no clear end date
- • Timeline slipped >6 months from original plan
- • Key stakeholders losing confidence publicly
- • Vendor relationship breakdown or contract disputes
- • Team turnover >40% in past 6 months
- • No working software after 12+ months
⚠️ Early Warning Signs
- • Status reports consistently show “yellow” status
- • Requirements changing >20% per month
- • Testing phases repeatedly delayed
- • Integration issues emerging at late stage
- • User acceptance criteria unclear or changing
- • Business case ROI no longer achievable
30-Day Project Rescue Roadmap
Week 1: Crisis Stabilisation
Days 1-2: Immediate Assessment
- • Interview all key stakeholders (2 hours each)
- • Review financial status and remaining budget
- • Assess current team morale and capability
- • Document critical path dependencies
- • Identify immediate risks requiring mitigation
Days 3-5: Stakeholder Alignment
- • Conduct executive steering committee session
- • Redefine project success criteria and scope
- • Establish new governance and decision-making authority
- • Communicate change in leadership to all stakeholders
- • Negotiate vendor pause/reset if needed
Days 6-7: Quick Wins
- • Identify and implement 2-3 immediate improvements
- • Resolve any pressing team or vendor issues
- • Establish weekly progress reporting rhythm
- • Create visible project dashboard for transparency
Week 2: Scope & Strategy Reset
Days 8-10: Requirements Triage
- • Categorise requirements: Must-have, Should-have, Could-have
- • Eliminate scope creep items not in original business case
- • Define Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for first release
- • Re-estimate effort for refined scope
Days 11-12: Technical Architecture Review
- • Conduct independent technical architecture assessment
- • Identify technical debt and integration risks
- • Evaluate current development practices and tools
- • Recommend architecture simplifications if needed
Days 13-14: New Project Plan
- • Create revised project timeline with realistic milestones
- • Establish new budget requirements and approval
- • Design phased delivery approach for early value
- • Define quality gates and testing criteria
Week 3: Team & Process Optimisation
Days 15-17: Team Restructuring
- • Assess individual team member capabilities and fit
- • Bring in specialist expertise for critical gaps
- • Restructure team organisation for better collaboration
- • Implement clear roles and responsibilities matrix
Days 18-19: Process Implementation
- • Implement agile/iterative development methodology
- • Establish daily standups and sprint planning
- • Create definition of done and acceptance criteria
- • Set up automated testing and deployment pipelines
Days 20-21: Risk Management
- • Create comprehensive risk register with mitigation plans
- • Establish escalation procedures for issues
- • Implement change control process
- • Plan contingency options for major risks
Week 4: Execution & Momentum
Days 22-24: First Sprint Delivery
- • Complete first working software increment
- • Demonstrate progress to stakeholders
- • Gather feedback and adjust priorities
- • Celebrate early wins with the team
Days 25-27: Vendor & Partner Alignment
- • Renegotiate vendor contracts if necessary
- • Establish clear deliverable expectations
- • Implement regular vendor performance reviews
- • Create backup plans for critical vendor dependencies
Days 28-30: Future Planning
- • Finalise next 90-day roadmap
- • Establish long-term project governance model
- • Plan knowledge transfer and documentation
- • Create sustainability plan for continued success
Critical Success Factors
🎯 Essential Elements
- Executive Sponsorship: Visible, committed leadership from the C-suite
- Scope Discipline: Ruthless focus on MVP and core requirements
- Team Stability: Protect the core team from other competing priorities
- Transparency: Regular, honest communication with all stakeholders
❌ Common Pitfalls
- Trying to save everything: Attempting to deliver original scope despite constraints
- Blame culture: Focusing on past mistakes instead of future solutions
- Technology tunnel vision: Ignoring process and people issues
- Inadequate governance: Not establishing clear decision-making authority
30-Day Success Metrics
100%
Stakeholder confidence restored
1
Working software increment delivered
50%
Scope reduction achieved
90%
Team confidence in new plan
Case Study: $12M ERP Rescue
Situation
Manufacturing company's ERP implementation 18 months behind schedule, $8M over budget, with vendor threatening to terminate contract.
30-Day Actions
- • Reduced scope by 60%, focusing on core financial and inventory modules
- • Renegotiated vendor contract with clear deliverable milestones
- • Brought in specialist integration team for legacy system connections
- • Established weekly executive steering committee
6 months
Time to first phase delivery
$4M
Additional budget required (vs $8M+ projected)
285%
ROI achieved in first year
Is your project in crisis?
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