[roryirvine]

I'm a consultant rather than a contractor, but the "shitshow" projects are amongst my favourites. They offer the chance to make a clear positive impact, which can be hugely rewarding.

From my pov, green flags for a good "bad" project mostly come from the attitude of leadership - especially if they already recognise there's a problem, and that some form of cultural change may be needed rather than expecting a purely technical solution.

On the other hand, if they seem reluctant to consider root causes, or if there's any sense that they're seeking to cover up problems or shift blame, then those are pretty clear red flags. Quick fixes tend to fall apart, and aren't really satisfying for anyone.