How have you handled a situation where a project was off-schedule and what steps did you take to rectify it?

This question is asking for two things, how have you managed when a project was not on track, probably falling behind the timeline, and what steps you took to bring normalcy. The interviewer seeks to understand your ability to handle pressure, problem-solving skills, and how well you adapt. While answering this question, focus on establishing the following key points:

1. The situation: Briefly describe the situation, specifically how the project was off schedule.
2. Actions: What actions did you take? Break it down into steps.
3. Result: Describe the result, and if possible, quantify the success.

In my last role at XYZ Ltd., we had a major project that was delayed due to an unexpected resource constraint. I recognized the problem early, realizing we were off-schedule to meet our initial deadline. My first step was to reassess the project timeline and identify key tasks that were on the critical path. Once that was clear, I organized a meeting with the team to discuss and brainstorm possible solutions. It was collectively decided that by working extra hours and reallocating some of the tasks, we could overcome the delay. I made sure to communicate this revised plan to all stakeholders, so they were aware of the changes. I also set up daily check-ins to closely monitor the progress. As a result, our team worked cohesively to catch up, and we successfully delivered the project just one week later than initially planned, considering we were initially four weeks behind, this was a significant achievement.

In my previous role as a project manager at ABC Corporation, one of our key projects was falling behind schedule due to unforeseen technical issues. Having identified this, my first response was to call a meeting with the technical team. We evaluated the problem at hand and discussed various solutions. We realized that external help was necessary, so we hired a consultant who specialized in the area of our technical difficulties. Concurrently, I revised the project schedule to accommodate the disruptions while keeping the impact minimal. Additionally, keeping communication transparent, I updated all the stakeholders regarding the change in plan and new projected timelines. I also accelerated non-technical areas of the project to compensate for lost time. The outcome was positive; we delivered the project two weeks late as opposed to the projected six weeks it would have taken without intervention, and the client was pleased with our crisis management.