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Project Management

Project Recovery: Turning Around Troubled Projects

Projects can fall into difficulty through unrealistic plans, scope creep, poor governance or supplier problems. This course gives project leaders a structured approach to diagnosing troubled projects, stabilising them, re-planning, resetting stakeholder expectations and leading teams through recovery. Participants work through recovery scenarios and build a recovery plan.

5 days Classroom or live online English
Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants
Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF
Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Recognising trouble early and acting decisively can save a project. This course helps you diagnose root causes honestly and lead a credible recovery.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

  • Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
  • Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
  • Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.
Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course uses project health assessments, recovery case studies, re-planning exercises and stakeholder role plays.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Recognise warning signs of project failure
  • Conduct an objective project health assessment
  • Stabilise the project and control immediate risks
  • Re-plan scope, schedule and budget realistically
  • Reset stakeholder expectations and governance
  • Lead and motivate teams through recovery
Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

  • Project and programme managers
  • PMO and project assurance professionals
  • Sponsors
  • Contract managers
  • Delivery managers
Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

  • Project health assessment
  • Root cause diagnosis
  • Re-planning
  • Stakeholder negotiation
  • Recovery leadership
  • Governance reset
Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Recognising Trouble

  1. 09:00–09:54Common causes of project failure
  2. 09:54–10:48Warning signs
  3. 10:48–11:00Denial and escalation of commitment
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Denial and escalation of commitment (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06When to recover or stop
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Project health indicators

Day 2Diagnosing the Project

  1. 09:00–09:54Health assessment approach
  2. 09:54–10:48Interviews and document review
  3. 10:48–11:00Root cause analysis
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Root cause analysis (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Presenting findings
  7. 13:06–14:00Workshop: Project diagnosis

Day 3Stabilising

  1. 09:00–09:54Immediate actions
  2. 09:54–10:48Controlling scope and change
  3. 10:48–11:00Team stabilisation
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Team stabilisation (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Supplier issues
  7. 13:06–14:00Case study: Stabilising a failing IT project

Day 4Re-Planning

  1. 09:00–09:54Re-baselining
  2. 09:54–10:48Scope options and trade-offs
  3. 10:48–11:00Realistic estimates
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Realistic estimates (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Risk-based contingency
  7. 13:06–14:00Exercise: Building a recovery plan

Day 5Leading Recovery

  1. 09:00–09:54Resetting stakeholder expectations
  2. 09:54–10:48Governance improvements
  3. 10:48–11:00Team morale and leadership
  4. 11:00–11:30Coffee break
  5. 11:30–12:12Team morale and leadership (continued)
  6. 12:12–13:06Monitoring recovery
  7. 13:06–14:00Capstone: Recovery plan presentation

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Kuala Lumpur 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Nov - 20 Nov 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Dec - 11 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 14 Dec - 18 Dec 2026
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Jan - 8 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Jan - 22 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 25 Jan - 29 Jan 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Feb - 5 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Feb - 19 Feb 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Mar - 5 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Mar - 19 Mar 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Cape Town 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,890.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 29 Mar - 2 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Apr - 9 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Apr - 23 Apr 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 3 May - 7 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 17 May - 21 May 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 31 May - 4 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 31 May - 4 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 7 Jun - 11 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 21 Jun - 25 Jun 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 5 Jul - 9 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 19 Jul - 23 Jul 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 2 Aug - 6 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Rome 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 9 Aug - 13 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 16 Aug - 20 Aug 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Amsterdam 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,540.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Sept - 10 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Singapore 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,820.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 20 Sept - 24 Sept 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Barcelona 27 Sept - 1 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,840.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 27 Sept - 1 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
London 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 4 Oct - 8 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Dubai 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£3,150.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 18 Oct - 22 Oct 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Frankfurt 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 1 Nov - 5 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Kuala Lumpur 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,450.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 15 Nov - 19 Nov 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Vienna 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,940.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 29 Nov - 3 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Paris 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,860.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 6 Dec - 10 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register
Istanbul 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£2,650.-Register
Online Live virtual classroom 13 Dec - 17 Dec 2027
Confirmed dates
£1,250.-Register

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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