It's not uncommon for a paperless project to get off track. Other issues come up, people live, priorities change, budgets shift. Whatever the reason you can easily get it back on track by following these 8 simple steps.
What went wrong in the first place?
The first step in reviving a project that has gone off the rails is to figure out what caused it to do so. Once you figure out why you'll also need to understand how far off track it has really gotten.
Revisit the key benefits of your paperless project
Why was your paperless project a priority in the first place? What value did it bring to the organization and to people around you? Once you've figured that out solicit active support from those who will benefit from the completion of your paperless project.
Have any of your original objectives changed?
Once you've reconfirmed the key benefits of the project, you'll want to check with stakeholders to ensure their objectives and needs haven't changed.
What is left to be done?
With your team, revisit all the outstanding activities to complete your paperless project. Do any of these activities require updating? Do you need to add, remove or modify any of the activities?
Restate the roles and responsibilities of those on your team
Work with your team to reestablish their roles and responsibilities. Make sure everyone is on the same page and that there are no ambiguities that will stand in the way of the success of your paperless project.
Make sure you have a SMART schedule in place
The next step is going to be to ensure you revisit your original project schedule and update to ensure the remaining items are completed by your end date. To do ensure success, make sure your milestones are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.
Schedule a mid-project kick-off meeting
To re-energize your paperless project team and key stakeholders conduct a mid-project kick-off meeting to announce the plan to re-focus, timelines and anticipated outcomes.
Monitor, monitor, monitor, and of course, monitor
To keep your project on track you'll need to constantly monitor performance and achievements against your plan. Provide regular reports to your team the stakeholders. Don't let small problems become big problems, catch and address them early before they grow out of control.
