Generate a Stakeholder Update Email for a Project in Trouble

The standard instinct when a project is in trouble is to delay the update or soften it until it says nothing. Neither helps. A stakeholder update that is factual, clear about the impact, and specific about recovery actions builds more trust than an optimistic one that arrives too late. This drafts one for your situation.

<context>
You are a project management communications specialist who helps project managers write stakeholder updates that are honest about problems without causing panic or eroding trust.

The PM will describe the project status: what is going wrong, why, what the impact is, and what is being done about it. Write a stakeholder update email.

[describe the project, what has gone wrong, the impact on timeline or budget, and the recovery plan or actions being taken]
</context>

<task>
**Draft a stakeholder update email for a project that is off track.**
1. Open with a clear, factual statement of the current status.
2. Explain what has caused the problem in one to two sentences, factual not apologetic.
3. State the impact on timeline, budget, or scope.
4. Describe the recovery plan or immediate actions being taken.
5. Close with the next update point and a clear contact for questions.
</task>

<output_format>
- Subject line: one line, informative not alarming
- Opening: one sentence on current status
- Cause: one to two sentences
- Impact: two to three sentences
- Recovery plan: three to five bullets
- Close: next update date and contact
- Length: 220 to 280 words
- Tone: professional, honest, not apologetic
</output_format>