The Challenge You Face
Your transformation programme is in trouble. Deadlines are slipping, costs are escalating, stakeholders are losing confidence, and you're not sure if you can recover or need to stop.
You're dealing with:
- Confidence crisis - Leadership and stakeholders losing faith in the programme
- Unclear root causes - Symptoms are visible, but underlying problems aren't clear
- Optimism bias - Programme team minimizing problems in reporting
- Political pressure - High visibility programme with reputational risk
- Sunk cost trap - Already spent millions, unsure whether to continue
- Conflicting advice - Vendors, internal teams, and auditors offering different views
- Decision paralysis - Uncertainty about whether to pivot, persist, or stop
You need independent diagnosis and honest advice on what to do.
What We Deliver
We provide rapid, evidence-based assessment and practical recovery plans:
Health Check Services:
- Independent Programme Review - Comprehensive assessment of programme health
- Root Cause Analysis - Diagnosis of underlying problems, not just symptoms
- Deliverability Assessment - Honest evaluation of whether programme can succeed
- Benefits Realization Review - Assessment of whether benefits are achievable
- Governance & Decision-Making Audit - Evaluation of programme controls
- Vendor Performance Review - Assessment of supplier delivery and contract compliance
- Risk & Issue Deep Dive - Evaluation of risk management effectiveness
- Stakeholder Confidence Assessment - Understanding political and organizational support
Programme Recovery Services:
- Recovery Plan Development - Clear, actionable plan to get back on track
- Governance Reset - Strengthened controls and decision-making
- Scope & Benefits Reset - Realistic redefinition of what's achievable
- Vendor Management Intervention - Commercial and delivery relationship reset
- Critical Path Analysis - Focus on what truly matters for delivery
- Quick Wins Identification - Early successes to rebuild confidence
- Recovery Leadership - Interim leadership through critical recovery phase
How We Deliver
We combine diagnostic rigor with delivery pragmatism:
Health Check Process (2-4 weeks):
- Documentary Review - Business case, plans, reports, risks, and governance papers
- Stakeholder Interviews - 15-25 interviews with leadership, programme team, vendors, and users
- Data Analysis - Spend, schedule, benefits tracking, and performance metrics
- Vendor Assessment - Contract review and delivery performance evaluation
- Root Cause Diagnosis - Synthesis of findings into underlying problems
- Findings Presentation - Honest, evidence-based assessment of programme health
- Recommendations - Clear options: persist, pivot, or stop
Recovery Process (Variable duration):
- Recovery Planning - Define recovery approach, milestones, and governance
- Quick Wins Delivery - Early successes to rebuild momentum and confidence
- Governance Reset - Strengthen controls and decision-making
- Critical Path Focus - Ruthless prioritization of what matters
- Vendor Management - Reset commercial and delivery relationships
- Benefits Reset - Redefine realistic, achievable outcomes
- Ongoing Monitoring - Track recovery progress and adjust as needed
We deliver honest advice, even if it's uncomfortable. If a programme should stop, we'll say so.
Deployment
This service deploys when programmes are struggling:
- MOBILISE - Early warning signs that mobilization is off track
- DISCOVER - Discovery revealing problems larger than expected
- DESIGN - Design phase stalled or producing undeliverable solutions
- PREPARE - Implementation planning revealing unrealistic assumptions
- DELIVER - Delivery significantly off track
The earlier you intervene, the easier recovery becomes.
Domains
This service addresses all four domains:
- People - Leadership, governance, capability, and stakeholder management
- Process - Programme methodology, controls, and decision-making
- Technology - Technical delivery, architecture, and vendor performance
- Contracts - Commercial relationships, contract compliance, and vendor management
Most troubled programmes have problems across multiple domains.
Leaving a Legacy
After Health Check:
- Clear diagnosis of programme health and root causes
- Evidence-based assessment of deliverability
- Honest recommendations on whether to persist, pivot, or stop
- Leadership confidence in programme status
- Decision-making clarity for next steps
After Recovery:
- Programme back on track with realistic plan
- Strengthened governance preventing recurrence
- Rebuilt stakeholder confidence through early delivery
- Vendor relationships reset with clear accountability
- Internal capability enhanced through recovery experience
- Lessons learned captured for future programmes
Our Recovery Track Record
We've recovered programmes facing:
- Cost overruns of 200%+ from original budget
- Schedule delays of 18+ months
- Vendor disputes requiring commercial renegotiation
- Scope creep making original benefits unachievable
- Leadership changes requiring governance reset
- Stakeholder revolts demanding independent review
Honest diagnosis and pragmatic recovery planning works.
What Makes Our Approach Different
- Independence - No vested interest in programme continuation or cancellation
- Honesty - We'll tell you if a programme should stop
- Evidence-based - Diagnosis grounded in data, not opinions
- Pragmatism - Recovery plans that are achievable, not aspirational
- Public sector experience - Understanding political and organizational realities
- Commercial nous - Ability to reset vendor relationships
- Delivery credibility - We've run programmes, not just reviewed them
Related Services
This service combines powerfully with:
