Ultimate Guide to Rescue a Failing Software Project

Quick Summary: Software failure is a common issue that results in hefty losses for companies. But can we bring failing software on track again and make it a success? This is possible by rescuing failing software. Get a complete understanding of how it happens in this article and save failing software from being a debacle.

Software project cancellation or postponement is a widespread problem today for companies. Although this is a perfectly ordinary scene in IT, they seem to become more frequent and dramatic nowadays.

Companies think there are several external factors that are to be blamed when a software project fails. It's OK to reason and respond to the crisis, but it's essential to consider a more in-depth analysis. A CIO study reveals that the software project failure rate is 50%.

Therefore, it is important to analyze what went wrong and determine the reasons for failure. In this scenario, only a software project rescue mission can help you to bring it back on track. The blog will teach you everything you need to know to complete a software project successfully after a failure.

Not only will this help you line up your software project, but the chances of its success will multiply as you follow proper tactics. That is exciting for your business, right? So, without delay, let’s get started!

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What Are Software Projects?

A software project is the entire process of developing software, from gathering requirements to testing and maintaining it. The procedure is completed within a predetermined timeframe using the execution approaches to produce the desired software product with the help of software development services. Now that you know what it is, let us move on to another crucial aspect.

What is Software Project Rescue?

Software project rescue is when a project is bought back on board with as minimal impact on the current project budget and timetable as possible. Project rescue servers can help you with the support you need to complete your project by analyzing the present scenario and helping you in the best possible ways to get positive changes with software refactoring with the help of the product management team.

Why Do Software Projects Fail? - Signs of a Failing Project

Software project failure could have dozens of causes. Even if you hire dedicated developers or blindly outsource software development to a newbie team, or have poor execution or technology choices, your project might fail. Some reasons for software project failure are low-quality or unfinished offshore outsourced projects, software unfit for the purpose, inferior programming languages, poor planning for the project, not defining the project's requirements, and agreeing on unexpected deliverables.

According to the Project Management Institute, some of the common reasons for IT project failure, as per statistics, include:

• 41% of the times, an organization's priority changes.
• 39% of the times, inaccurate requirements gathering.
• 36% of the times, the project's objectives change.
• 27% of the times, risks and opportunities are not defined.
• 30% of cases of poor communication.
• 30% of the times, the goal or vision of the project is not defined.

Something is amiss with the project when the budget exceeds or a deadline fails. But can you save it before it is too late? Yes, only when you start addressing the concerns early. So, here are the warning signs of a troubling or failing software project:

Sign 1 - Inconsistent Management Decisions

Project leadership matters a lot. If things are missing or unreliable, it is a warning sign. Worst of all, if you start receiving inconsistent and changing directives from the management, it is a problem.

If the project lacks direction or fails to maintain a consistent course, it will not achieve its goal. Hence, the management must be consistent in their business approach. Consistency is the key to success. You can consider it through virtual project management, and professional help with software product development might act as a rescue plan.

Sign 2 - The Disconnect between Project and Business Management

It is odd if both managements do not work cohesively in a consistent direction. The problem is undoubtedly brewing. In battles like this, business management usually wins, while IT managers keep thinking about what went wrong.

If the management were not connected at different levels, it would be impossible to deliver a good project. The quality suffers, and the output may not be acceptable. Therefore, we aim to stay connected at all verticals to provide a premium quality output.

Sign 3 - Lack of Commitment

Any project has a set of goals. They are either stated clearly or discussed briefly. However, it is uncanny for a business to spend fortunes on a project without purpose. It is common to presume that the project's goal is too apparent to articulate and discuss.

That, however, is not the best course of action. It confuses the project’s priorities and discrepancies. Eventually, inconsistent and inadequate tactical decisions undermine the progress of a project.

Sign 4 - Team Members Are Not Cooperating

Even if the team members are personally cordial to each other, they may not listen to each other when it comes to working. This leads to a chaotic situation as others involved in the business fail to organize their activities and compromise when the project must proceed.

Sign 5 - There is a Discord

Teams sometimes become competitors. There may be differences due to personality and ego clashes. Such discord is destructive to the progress of the project. It should be entirely rooted out. A project manager can try to either reconcile or pick the winner. Either way, it is a loss-loss situation.

Sign 6 - Low-Quality Code

Poor code quality is a common cause of software project failure. Systems may have poor designs with critical issues and implementation problems. It occurs mainly when an external company is not scrutinized thoroughly or there are issues with price over quality. Custom software development services experts can help you with better code quality; ensure you are equipped with such services beforehand to avoid failure.

Most of the low-cost and quick-delivery work fails to deliver the best quality and satisfy customers. The same applies to low-quality codes and software. The process should be transparent and well-maintained.

Sign 7 - Developer Disappears

It is a widespread problem in companies. Sometimes, external developing partners disappear, whereas other times, a key team member may quit. It is possible to avoid this kind of situation right at the start of the project by doubling your external partners and making conscious efforts to identify the ones you can trust.

Sign 8 – Improper Analysis

As you identify that something is wrong with the project, it is time to check the source code. Do it precisely to reduce errors, inaccurate analysis and to ensure that there is no compromise with quality. Besides, questions regarding other issues need to be put up. For instance, inquiries related to documentation and completion, databases, the status of a software project, etc.

Sign 9 - Source Code Assistance

An IT partner's role is to rescue the project and provide support to service the source code. It is a crucial step during the entire process of choosing a software development partner. Your IT support and supplier should be able to fix all errors and bugs.

In case of a broken or lost source code, the support team should be equipped with the missing lines to rebuild it and ensure it works again. Sometimes, it may be essential to modernize the source code to make sure it looks different. At other times, replacing the old source code with a new source code should be good.

Sign 10 - Evaluating Dependency

To rescue a software project, you must understand its source code's underlying dependencies. Maybe the previous developer made some mistakes or programmed some inappropriate responses. Dependency issues are real.

It may include third-party libraries that need proprietary software, licensing, or specific user agreements with other developers from the past. That could limit performance and work in the short term.

Sign 11 - Unpredicted Complexities

Much of software project management methodologies are about ensuring users are happy while minimizing the complexities of tasks to make something more manageable. Every developer would want to code relevant enough to deliver answers effortlessly. That would only be possible when all users would like the same result.

Projects are going awry due to multiple factions' demand for attention. The project manager has to maintain everyone's and align the people's interests in the project for smooth delivery. To reduce complexities, make sure the project team can speak their mind effectively and programmers have the freedom to write the code with code quality.

Sign 12 - Poor Testing

Testing is also an art as much as developing the code. Each line of code is a creation. However, that is not enough. A relevant testing plan looks in both directions to ensure everything works. Too many or too few tests, however, is not the idea. It is essential to have a balanced approach and ensure that the testing plan is solid and fail-proof.

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How to Rescue a Failing Software Project?

By now, you must know that software projects can quickly fail, yet they do not have to. If you have been noticing consistent signs of a failing project in your organization, then to avoid that from happening again, it is essential to have clear goals, plans, and timelines from the initial stage. Moreover, a dedicated development team passionate about the project will help you stay ahead.

Additionally, it is essential to communicate effectively with your staff and stakeholders occasionally. It guarantees that everyone is aware of what must be done and when. Lastly, ensure that you are using Agile and DevOps as a Service framework to constantly look for different ways to enhance your process and the success of your project.

Now that we have a list of signs of a failing project, let us look at a few tips for you and your team to make your project successful. Let us look at a few sensible practices that might keep you at the forefront of innovation.

Practice 1 – Define the Goal of the Project

It is essential to start with a specific goal in your head. When creating a successful software project, it is crucial to have clear project-oriented goals in mind. Also, staying motivated and on track can often be challenging without knowing the result. Remember that while establishing goals for a software project, a few elements must be considered. You must be wondering what those things you should feel, right? Read on.

• What is it that you want to achieve?
• How will you evaluate your development?
• What are the repercussions of failing to achieve your objectives?
• Are your goals related to time?

After you have defined your project goals, it is crucial to remember them. The reason is that it is easy to get sidetracked if your goal is not concrete. Yet again, you can ensure a successful project by staying focused on your plan.

Practice 2 – Curate a Structure for Project Team

When you are getting started with a successful software project, remember that it is crucial to have a team structure in place. The system will help ensure the project is finished on schedule, keep track of the budget, and properly distribute resources. A few tips to help you with a great team structure are:

• Define the KPIs of everyone.
• Assign tasks to everyone.
• Create clear communication between the team members.
• Finally, but most importantly, be careful to hold people responsible for their duties.

Practice 3 – Create a Plan

Planning is one of the most critical tasks for any software project's success. Without planning, it becomes difficult to analyze what needs to be done, by whom, and how much work is required. Collecting these details and planning prior will help you know when the project will be completed. The following would be part of an excellent plan:

• An inventory of resources needed to finish the job.
• A list of risks in hand.
• Estimation of work that’ll be necessary.
• A schedule that identifies when each task should be completed.

Practice 4 – Set Deadlines

This practice will keep you ahead of any problems. Setting realistic deadlines is crucial so everyone knows how much time to do what. Do not overlook the fact that setting unrealistic deadlines will only lead to frustration, and on the latter, setting too low deadlines might not allow you enough time to achieve your goals.

Nevertheless, deadlines are always subject to change, depending on the circumstances. So, taking a break and re-evaluating the software project might be helpful if you believe you are behind schedule. Plus, it is one of the best software development methodologies that’ll help you to stay ahead.

Practice 5 – Communicate with the Stakeholders

Another critical practice that you need to follow for the success of your project is communication. Communication is crucial to be clear and precise with your stakeholders. It will help everyone comprehend what is required and how to collaborate to accomplish the project’s objective. A few important things to keep in mind are:

• While communicating, be clear about what you want from them.
• Make sure you understand their requirements and expectations.
• Be ready to respond to any inquiries.

It is vital to ensure that everyone has a clear picture and is updated on any changes made so that nobody is left out.

Practice 6 – Analyze the Challenges and the Opportunities

Ensure that you are all geared up to face any challenge that crosses your path. Staying informed about the project’s scope, having a clear plan for finishing it, and making sure that everyone on the team is on board with the project’s objective are all on the list.

This way, projects can be more successful and less stressful. Do not forget the opportunities that your project faces. To make the most out of it, you might have to consider a few changes than sticking to the plan and ensuring that you ask your team for their opinion on the same.

These are a few practices that you can follow to stay ahead of your software project success. You need to understand that a successful project execution can meet the needs of users and the expectations of the developers.

Numerous software projects fall short because opportunities and hazards were not initially considered. By understanding the risks and opportunities prior, the project manager will have an edge, and they can ensure that their projects succeed.

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Is It Better to Rescue Software, or Start Over?

To save or not to save, are you thinking about the same? Well, the only way to go about it is to weigh both scenarios' pros and cons. To begin with, ensure to investigate a few analyses, such as:

• The importance of the software project for the company/investors.
• Do you have proper resources for recovery?
• Can the project be continued or redefined?

So, if the market conditions and the technical aspects have not changed drastically, you need to know that the business benefits can be gained again, and the software project might be worth rescuing.

On the latter, if the importance of the project is not of great value, and the market conditions have changed, then you should consider replacing a failed software project by starting fresh with completely new strengths for an improved outcome.

A fresh start will help you benefit from all the best mistakes and avoid repeating them. Plus, doing software replacement is not only beneficial for a business, but also it can bring in high returns for investors as well. The new system will improve, and your business can profit from its increased efficiency.

Process of Software Project Rescue with Radixweb

Regardless of the cause, As a leading enterprise software development company, we follow a few steps to help you rescue your software project with ease of constant development. Our process of IT software project rescue goes like this:

Step 1 – Stabilize

Our professional rescue team will analyze your project landscape and the delivery requirements.

Step 2 – Planning

After analyzing, they will create a pragmatic, achievable product management roadmap for you to meet your goals quickly.

Step 3 – Development

The professionals will develop your software with the help of developers, project managers, business analysts, engineers for infrastructure, and testers.

Step 4 – Hosting

We will analyze where and how to host your solution to help you make the best out of your software project.

Step 5 – Support and Maintenance

After finishing each stage, our professionals will assist you in maintaining your software, resolving any problems, incorporating new features, or training your team on operating and maintaining the solution.

These are a few steps that you can follow for software project rescue. Plus, software project management practices can help you stay ahead of it.

ConclusionGetting a failed software project back on track requires a complete analysis of what went wrong and a mindset to adapt. Though failure is bad, your positive mindset and careful planning can help you bounce back in this scenario.Start by finding the gaps and things that you can repair straightaway. You can add new imperative features, replace source code, and fix errors over time. Alternatively, you can save your precious time and resources by collaborating with a seasoned software project rescue services provider like Radixweb.For the past two decades, we have worked on some of the most challenging rescue project scenarios, saving our clients millions. We can help you bring your project to life again and steer it in that direction. Talk to our experts for further discussions.