What do I do if I Discover a Project Just Won’t Work?
Not every change you lead or support succeeds. There always comes a time when you have to fish or cut bait. If the change effort not only isn’t working but the results anticipated are unlikely to occur, then it is time to cut bait.
More important than the fact you have to kill a project is how you do it. You don’t want to discourage other change efforts by your actions. Don’t pretend the failure didn’t happen. Rather, address the reason the project is being declared at an end. Share with those involved with you in the project what was learned from the effort. And, most important, discuss with your supporters what will be done differently in the future with change initiatives to increase the odds of their success. Go out on a positive note.