You've invested six figures and a year of your team's time. The vendor keeps pushing the deadline. Features that were "almost done" three months ago are still "almost done." Your business is stuck operating with inadequate systems while waiting for a solution that may never arrive.
This is more common than vendors want you to know. We've rescued dozens of failed database projects. Here's the decision framework and action steps for when your project goes off the rails.
Step 1: Diagnose Why It's Failing
Delays have root causes. Common culprits: scope wasn't properly defined, vendor oversold their capabilities, requirements keep changing, key decisions aren't getting made, or the technical architecture is fundamentally flawed. You need to identify the root cause before you can decide what to do—different problems have different solutions.
Step 2: Assess What's Actually Built
Get an independent assessment of the current state. What percentage of functionality actually works? Is the data model sound? Is the code maintainable? Sometimes projects are 80% done and just need finishing. Sometimes they're 20% done despite burning 100% of the budget. You can't make good decisions without honest assessment.
Step 3: Decide: Rescue, Replace, or Reduce
Rescue: If the foundation is solid and the remaining work is well-defined, a new team can finish it. Replace: If the architecture is flawed, it's cheaper to start over than to fix broken foundations. Reduce: If scope creep killed the project, cut back to core requirements and declare victory. Each option has different costs and timelines.
Red Flags That Mean Replace
Start over if: the data model can't support your actual workflows, performance is terrible and can't be fixed without rewriting core components, the technology choices were wrong for your requirements, or there's no documentation and the original developers are gone. Sunk cost fallacy kills projects—sometimes cutting losses is the right move.
The Rescue Process
If rescue is the right path: First, stabilize what exists—fix critical bugs, document the current state. Second, ruthlessly prioritize remaining features—what do you need to go live? Third, break work into 2-week sprints with clear deliverables. Fourth, establish a single decision-maker who can approve changes quickly. This isn't the time for design by committee.
Preventing Future Failures
Once you're out of crisis, learn from it. What would you do differently? Usually: better vendor vetting, clearer requirements up front, more frequent check-ins, smaller initial scope, and a dedicated internal champion. The goal isn't just to finish this project—it's to make sure the next one succeeds from the start.
Our 2-Day Emergency Assessment
We offer an emergency database project assessment with 48-hour turnaround. We'll review your current state, diagnose root causes, assess salvage potential, and provide a concrete recommendation: rescue, replace, or reduce. You'll have the information you need to make a decision and a roadmap for next steps.
Is your database project in trouble? Book our emergency database project assessment and get clarity on your options within 48 hours. The sooner you know the real situation, the sooner you can fix it.