What is a Project Health Check?
Project teams deal with the possibility of failure every day. There are numerous reasons why projects fail, many of which can be avoided with a project health check.
A project health check enables the team to pause daily tasks and objectively evaluate the actual status of the project. The evaluation will identify potential problems that may arise during the project planning phase.
Benefits of Project Health Check
Benefits of conducting a project health check include:
- Identifying potential issues early to save time and reduce costs.
- Overcoming current challenges and mitigating risks.
- Ensuring the project requirements and objectives remain relevant and clearly understood by the team.
- Verifying adherence to established practices and business processes to maintain the quality of the final deliverables.
7 Factors to Include in Your Project Health Check
The tools and methods, such as Microsoft project management tools, to complete a project health check will depend on the project’s scale and relevant local guidelines.
The output is typically a comprehensive report that highlights problems, identifies potential risks, and suggests actionable solutions. Some organizations use external auditors to obtain an unbiased evaluation.
The project health check may occur at scheduled intervals or address unexpected issues. Here are seven factors to include in your next assessment.
1. Business Case
Before examining the status of the project, it is important to consider if the original business case is still relevant.
Compare work completed against the initial objectives and metrics. Ensure the team fully understands the business case and the purpose of the project.
For guidance on preparing a thorough project report, refer to this guide on effective report writing.
2. Budgets
Budget overruns often lead to project failure. Examine the systems and processes for controlling, approving, and tracking costs.
A useful way to assess project costs and performance is Earned Value Management.
3. Risk Management
Project risk is always present and must be managed proactively. During the project health check, confirm the existence and application of a risk management plan.
Are risk assessments conducted regularly, and are identified risks addressed promptly?
4. Quality Control
Quality is as essential as time and scope in project constraints. Refer to organizational processes and agreed deliverables to determine if the quality is an issue.
5. Communication
Providing support and guidance to your project team is critical. Lack of communication and internal conflict can quickly derail the project.
Ensure the team collaborates effectively. For example, is everyone using the collaborative project site to track and update their work?
You should also review the stakeholder engagement plan and external communications to maintain alignment.
6. Roles and Responsibilities
Verify that team members understand their roles. If a defined role has evolved during the project, confirm that the changes were documented and clarified with relevant team members.
7. Resource Management
Project success is closely linked to the adequate availability of the right resources when needed. Consider if resources were used efficiently and shared as needed.
