Your project timeline is slipping. How can you regain client trust and meet their expectations?

My two-bits: The devil is in the detail, in many projects I involved, people some time were trapped on administering contract rather than supporting Company's commitment to the steakholder. In helicopter view: Company's decission and policy shall be on priorties. Project team needs to be enlighted.

Personal Experience: Conduct a thorough assessment of the current project status. Identify the root causes of the delays, such as resource shortages, technical issues, or scope changes. Use project management tools to gather data and analyze the project's critical path.

When you arrive, the observation / assessment is the most important. 2 levels of understanding: - Systemic and Customer/business strategy - Operational and organizational A real audit with a capital A. Based on this observation: - Establish a first 3/6/9 month plan and priorize actions - Pareto matrix - Define a risk/risk matrix, what not to do: cost, deadline, scope. Quality is an axiom of Customer/Internal satisfaction - The priority of the 3 factors: Qos, Qoe, Client Image. Choose the strong axis. A lot of work on metrics / Kpi to be carried out (observation, need, why, for whom), therefore ROI. Implement, monitor progress, show the work carried out, follow measurements => Have a vision of trends, gains (NPS squads, Client etc.)

Communicate transparently with the client about the delays. Provide them with an honest assessment of the situation, including the reasons for the delay and the steps being taken to address the issues. Regular, clear communication helps manage expectations and demonstrates accountability.

Following the findings (Cf. Point n°1). Sharing information is essential: - Within teams, middle organization and management - With external stakeholders: stakeolders, Customers, why not users. Everyone must be aligned. If things are not going well, we need to talk about it and find solutions at least at a minimum. And if it’s okay, share the positive aspects as well. Take into account the constraints of time, money, relevance to achieving the Client's desires. We must therefore prioritize, arbitrate, achieve and show. Example: every year analyzes are carried out on the use of websites. In general, at least 50% of the site is used very little or not at all. = spend money differently, prioritize high value-added options/functions.

Develop a revised project plan that includes new timelines, milestones, and resource allocations. Prioritize critical tasks and reallocate resources to ensure the most impactful parts of the project are completed on time. Share this revised plan with the client to obtain their buy-in and manage their expectations.

Following the sharing of the observation. Rely on the different matrices (see point no. 1): - Determine strategic and operational priorities = risks the 3 factors. - Take into account the company's constraints (incompressible deadline, limited resources, etc.). Choosing your “workhorses”: - restrict the perimeter - improve production for customer satisfaction and internal costs? As a reminder, generally speaking in IT, the cost of a production anomaly can be 25 to 100 times higher than a development anomaly. Start the 3/6/9 month plan. Observe trends NPS. Take stock of the ROI

Motivate and engage your project team by communicating the importance of meeting the revised deadlines. Hold team meetings to ensure everyone is aligned with the new plan and understands their roles and responsibilities. Encourage collaboration and provide support where needed.

80% of the issues are known to the field, to the workers. 15% of middle management 5% of top management. Sharing of all this data must take place at all levels: - synthesis of field elements. Risk assessment not to be done. Topics to prioritize. The relevance of carrying them out (see point no. 1, 2 and 3). Everyone must be aligned even if not all choices are validated. If top management trusts with a very clear vision. That workers have the means. "You're getting there. It's just a question of When and How" CEO of transformation at B.M.W.

Implement a robust monitoring system to track the progress of the revised plan. Use project management software to keep track of task completion, deadlines, and potential roadblocks. Regularly review progress with the team and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track.

- Rely on the observation / assessment (Cf. point n°1) - On the metrics defined before the start of the work/changes (see point no. 1 and 2) - Regular sharing points at all levels of the organization/company: field/operational, middle, top management

Build trust with the client by consistently meeting the revised milestones and delivering quality work. Keep the client informed with regular updates and involve them in key decisions. Acknowledge any further issues immediately and work collaboratively to resolve them.

Right from start of project , manager has to inculcate in mind that catching dead line is like breathing which can not be skipped.Daily Delay Detail Discussion i.e D4 reduce the chance of time over and hence cost overrun.Disclosure of lagging behind weekly and discussion on reasons for delay once in a month with stakeholders pumps confidence in concerned parties to catch deadline. There are unforseen factors and natural calamities which create hinderance in the progress but this kind of delay is unavoidable and less detrimental and disturbing to stake holders.Delay in progress of project due to negligence of management , or internal disturbances inside management are to be attended without delay .

Risk Management: Identify potential risks that could cause further delays and develop mitigation strategies. Client Involvement: Involve the client in problem-solving and decision-making to foster a sense of partnership. Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate small wins and milestones with both the team and the client to maintain morale and demonstrate progress. Continuous Improvement: Conduct a post-mortem analysis after the project completion to learn from the delays and improve processes for future projects.