Five early warning signs your programme is drifting

Programmes rarely fail in a single dramatic moment. More often, they drift — slowly, quietly, and in plain sight. By the time a status report turns Red, the root causes have usually been present for months.

1. The plan hasn't changed in weeks

A plan that never changes isn't a sign of stability; it's a sign nobody is using it. Healthy programmes re-forecast constantly.

2. Decisions are escalated but not made

If the same issues appear on the board agenda month after month, governance has become a reporting ritual rather than a decision-making forum.

3. Status is Green, but confidence is Amber

Ask the delivery team privately how confident they are. If the answer differs from the dashboard, believe the team.

4. Benefits have become an afterthought

When the conversation is only about scope and dates, the programme has lost sight of why it exists.

5. Dependencies live in people's heads

Undocumented dependencies are the single most common cause of late surprises we see.

What to do next

An independent health check — typically two to four weeks — gives sponsors an evidence-based view and a practical reset plan before small issues become expensive ones.