5 steps to saving a late construction project

Completion date looming with seemingly little chance of meeting it? Dave Stitt FCIOB offers some tips.

1. Get some perspective
You’re the project director so you’re accountable, but it’s not your fault. You picked up the job after it was won.

2. Convene the leadership
There is a small group of people who are responsible for the big decisions. You, your second-in-command, your commercial director, the client’s representative, one or two of their consultants and the directors of a few key subcontractors. Probably eight of you in all.

3. Shift from “can-do” to “can-think”
The eight of you all have brilliant, can-do attitudes. That’s how you got to where you are. It’s not enough.

4. What’s the priority?
If you have more than one priority, you have none. If you’re eight weeks behind, you need one priority.

5. Engage the workforce
When I was a contracts manager, I was handed the most ridiculous fast-track project ever. By week 18 the project management team was working 24/7, but it was clear we were not going to make it. I asked the project manager to get his site staff and key subcontract supervisors in the conference room. An hour later I had 19 people assembled.