Distressed project management has become an important part of project management. In fact, the demand for such managers is increasing because of several projects going awry in the middle. The process involves different steps and the first step is the Entering phase during which the managers try to find out about the distress by talking with different people involved in the project. The second phase is the phase of analysis and assessment phase which involves assessing the degree of deviation depending on the information gathered during the first phase. During this phase, it is important to assess the information in a neutral manner.
What is There in the Analysis and Assessment Phase?
This is considered to be the most labor intensive phase by managers because after collecting the information on the damage, the degree is evaluated in this phase of construction project management. The past and the present of the project comes to the forefront during this phase. The distress project manager must display a great deal of tact to delve deep into the problem without making anyone feel alienated. During this phase the manager needs to build a good relationship with the project team so that the proposed solution is accepted by them later on.
Data Collection, Documentation and Data Evaluation
Data collection is generally done through the initial interview phase. In certain cases data is gathered before interviews and this is quite a preferred process because it offers window through which questions can be asked regarding certain points. This helps the participants to become more focused. It also keeps the interviews from becoming blurred and distracted. Whatever data has been gathered, that needs evaluation prior to probative interviews. Probative interviews are used as a tool to drill deep into the areas that were not covered in the earlier steps. Following are the documents that a distress project manager checks:
In fact, doing all these in detail helps to find out how detailed the project plan was and how much has the project deviated. Moreover, if this plan lacks in detail, it implies deviation because project usually goes astray in the absence of a detailed plan.
Reaching Conclusions and Solution Path
Experience plays a vital role in this section. Though there is no benchmark set for distressed projects; however, there are some common areas in which the distress is visible. Some of those areas include:
Solutions are however, unique and vary based on organization, resource levels, management and also culture.
Gaining Approval and Consensus on Solutions
Gaining approval and consensus on the solution appears difficult or easy based on the factors that caused the deviation of the project. In fact, the level of difficulty varies according to the hierarchy of the company like it is usually difficult at the senior management level. Irrespective of the level, the solution should be presented in a logical and sequential manner to gain consent.
Project management services include distressed project management as an important part and in the second stage the problem is usually understood. In fact, without a competent project manager, it is difficult to find out the degree of deviation and the solution to bring it back on track.
What is There in the Analysis and Assessment Phase?
This is considered to be the most labor intensive phase by managers because after collecting the information on the damage, the degree is evaluated in this phase of construction project management. The past and the present of the project comes to the forefront during this phase. The distress project manager must display a great deal of tact to delve deep into the problem without making anyone feel alienated. During this phase the manager needs to build a good relationship with the project team so that the proposed solution is accepted by them later on.
Data Collection, Documentation and Data Evaluation
Data collection is generally done through the initial interview phase. In certain cases data is gathered before interviews and this is quite a preferred process because it offers window through which questions can be asked regarding certain points. This helps the participants to become more focused. It also keeps the interviews from becoming blurred and distracted. Whatever data has been gathered, that needs evaluation prior to probative interviews. Probative interviews are used as a tool to drill deep into the areas that were not covered in the earlier steps. Following are the documents that a distress project manager checks:
- Project approval and charter document
- Initiation Mechanism
- Scope Statement
- Standard Development Documentation which includes ROM, project schedules, and design
- Project Implementation Plan which includes elements like communication management strategy, risk management, scope-change management and procurement management strategy.
- Integration- Handover-Closeout Management Strategy
In fact, doing all these in detail helps to find out how detailed the project plan was and how much has the project deviated. Moreover, if this plan lacks in detail, it implies deviation because project usually goes astray in the absence of a detailed plan.
Reaching Conclusions and Solution Path
Experience plays a vital role in this section. Though there is no benchmark set for distressed projects; however, there are some common areas in which the distress is visible. Some of those areas include:
- Inaccurate management decisions
- Misplaced expectations from client to provider
- Ineffective Stakeholder Communication
- Inefficient execution plan
- Inadequate scope and design base on which the final estimation is done
- The Project manager is not enough experienced to handle the project
- Insufficient resources and infrastructure
Solutions are however, unique and vary based on organization, resource levels, management and also culture.
Gaining Approval and Consensus on Solutions
Gaining approval and consensus on the solution appears difficult or easy based on the factors that caused the deviation of the project. In fact, the level of difficulty varies according to the hierarchy of the company like it is usually difficult at the senior management level. Irrespective of the level, the solution should be presented in a logical and sequential manner to gain consent.
Project management services include distressed project management as an important part and in the second stage the problem is usually understood. In fact, without a competent project manager, it is difficult to find out the degree of deviation and the solution to bring it back on track.