Our client, a large Australian retailer, was mid-way through an enterprise data warehouse deployment. The project had hit a number of problems; apart from being late and over-budget, the technology was not performing as required, the business users and sponsors were very dissatisfied with outcomes, and the project was close to being stopped. Given the overall need driving the warehouse was still valid, the company wanted to rescue the project.

We performed two functions to help bring this project back to a healthy status.

Firstly we performed a full project and program review, through meetings, interviews and assessment of project documents. We also conducted an Acceleration Workshop to clarify issues, priorities, solutions and a remediation plan. We created the strategy for remediation of the project, ordering the tasks and agreeing the business case for the work. The project was also re-structured as a program with 6 key streams and many sub-projects.

Secondly, we took on the program management of the project for the first 12 weeks of the remediation. During this time:

• The program steering committee was re-established with a stronger membership, along with a working group for more detailed decisions.
• A 2-year cost of ownership for the data warehouse was created, covering remediation, strategic developments and operating costs.
• The team structure was changed to fit the new needs of the program.
• The team formed much closer relationships with key vendors, including much increased on-site expertise and revised commercial arrangements.
• The disciplines of program and project management were re-introduced and embedded; status reporting, risks and issue management, financial reporting, scope & communications.
• Several key projects were started and some completed to kick start the improvements required in system performance.
• The development of a new business-orientated strategy for the program was started.

The new program direction was approved, new funding granted to the project and the first tangible improvements to performance completed. Business and IT relations improved substantially, and the project emerged from red status shortly afterwards. ?