13-point Programme Delay Gauge

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Based on experience, we’ve compiled a list of 13 key questions to indicate the likelihood of significant challenges to projects/programmes. It’s a gauge that something larger isn't working in your programme, and delays are likely.

These questions are aimed at Programme Directors or Senior Leaders, but in principle, can apply to a wider audience. So, in no particular order:

1. If you asked 5 staff at random, would they all know how to raise a project risk?

2. Do the Programme/Project Managers know what the documented, agreed, and current Technical Baseline is?

3. Is there a single Plan/Schedule that all people can access and are actively driving towards?

4. Do all Managers and Leaders know what the critical path is and the 2 lowest float paths are?

5. Does the team struggle to achieve minor tasks within the committed day?

6. Do your most junior staff understand what they are working on and why it contributes to the overall execution?

7. Can your Management team recall the top/biggest 3 risks to on-time delivery?

8. Can anyone working on the programme summarise the aims of the current phase into fewer than 5 bullet points?

9. Does your next milestone/deliverable have Customer-agreed, unambiguous acceptance/success criteria?

10. If someone asked you, could you show them the current status of predicted compliance to contractual requirements?

11. Do you have a documented route to getting off-contract?

12. Does your programme have a sense of rhythm, cadence or tempo?

13. Do your common issue improvement initiatives realise the desired benefits?

If all of these are NO, then you are probably in a delay territory already but may feel it yet.

If most of these are NO, then significant delays are likely in future. 

If all of these are YES, then be honest, double check, and assess continuous improvement options.

If you require support to resolve the identified issues, then contact us today (suggested Service: Standalone Discovery Report):