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If you’ve ever watched a promising digital project spiral off course – missing deadlines, blowing budgets, or failing to deliver what was promised – you’re not alone. Deadlines slip, requirements shift, teams lose momentum — and soon, even the best ideas can be at risk of failing. In fact, industry studies consistently show that up to 70% of IT, technology, and digital projects and initiatives struggle to meet their goals.
The 2023 report The Future of Transformation is Human by EY and University of Oxford Saïd Business School surveyed over 900 senior leaders and found that 67% had experienced at least one underperforming transformation in the previous five years. [1]
This figure is widely cited in industry reports and reflects the persistent challenges organisations face when delivering complex technology initiatives. McKinsey [2] found that, regardless of project size, only 59% of all IT projects are completed within budget, 47% are completed on time, and 44% deliver the intended benefits.
17% of large IT projects fail so drastically that they pose a threat to the very survival of the organisations they were intended to support. These “black swan” [3] projects can see budget overruns of 200–400%.
But why does this happen, and more importantly, how can you avoid becoming another statistic?
The Common Pitfalls: Why Projects Go Off Track
1. Lack of Clear Vision and Changing Requirements
Many projects start with a vague idea of what’s needed, but as business needs evolve, requirements change. Without a clear, adaptable roadmap, teams quickly lose focus, leading to scope creep, misalignment and confusion.
2. Poor Communication
When stakeholders, developers, and users aren’t on the same page, misunderstandings are inevitable. This can result in wasted effort, duplicated work, and solutions that don’t actually solve the real business problem.
3. Rigid Processes
Traditional, linear project management methods often struggle to keep up with the pace of change in today’s digital landscape. When teams can’t pivot quickly, they risk building yesterday’s solution for tomorrow’s problem.
4. Insufficient User Involvement
Projects that don’t actively involve the needs of end-users throughout the process often miss the mark, resulting in tools that are difficult to use or don’t address real needs.
What makes the difference – Research by EY and Oxford Saïd Business School demonstrates that placing humans at the centre of transformation efforts – by focusing on six key drivers: inspire, lead, care, empower, collaborate, and build – can increase the likelihood of transformation success by a factor of 2.689. Their predictive model shows that organisations with above-average adoption of these six drivers are 2.6 times more likely to achieve successful transformation outcomes compared to those with below-average adoption [5].
The six key drivers are:
- Inspire: Creating a compelling vision that energises and aligns the workforce.
- Lead: Demonstrating strong, emotionally intelligent leadership that guides teams through uncertainty.
- Care: Providing emotional support and fostering a culture where people feel heard and valued.
- Empower: Giving employees clear roles, responsibilities, and the autonomy to innovate and execute.
- Collaborate: Building a safe environment for open communication, co-creation, and shared problem-solving.
- Build: Investing in the right technology and processes to enable progress and sustain momentum.
The research highlights that when organisations consciously apply these human-centred practices, they not only boost their chances of success, but they also reduce the emotional strain and resistance that often derail transformation programs. For example, 52% of respondents in high-performing transformations said their organisation provided the necessary emotional support, compared to only 28% in low-performing ones.
How We Turn Projects Around
At Ardanis, we have a strong reputation for rescuing projects that are in trouble – and, more importantly, setting them up for long-term success. With deep technical expertise, an agile approach, and a calm, collaborative mindset, we specialise in helping companies transform struggling projects into real success stories, putting your business goals front and centre.
We start with a clear-eyed, structured audit of the project’s status, followed by a flexible, tailored plan. Our methodology balances quick wins to regain momentum with long-term strategies to rebuild stability and stakeholder trust.
Agile at the Core
Agile is our mindset. We break work into manageable sprints, deliver value early and often, and continuously gather feedback. This means you see progress quickly, can adapt to changing priorities, and avoid costly surprises.
Collaboration, Not Just Communication
We don’t just send status updates- we work closely with your team, stakeholders, and end-users. Through workshops, regular check-ins, and transparent reporting, we ensure everyone is aligned and empowered to contribute.
Solutions That Evolve With You
Your business doesn’t stand still, and neither should your digital solutions. We design systems that are flexible and scalable, so as your needs change, your technology can adapt-without starting from scratch.
Expertise You Can Trust
With years of experience across industries and technologies, we know how to spot potential pitfalls before they become problems. Our team brings best practices, proven frameworks, and a commitment to quality at every stage.
Ready to Get Back on Track?
If your project is struggling – or if you want to make sure it never gets to that point – let’s talk. We believe that with the right approach, every project can succeed.
Resources:
[2] https://sourcinginnovation.com/wordpress/2024/10/25/two-and-a-half-decades-of-project-failure/
[3] https://www.runn.io/blog/it-project-management-statistics
[6] https://futurecio.tech/ey-outlines-six-drivers-of-business-transformation/