Project and Programme Recovery: Expert Advice from the Frontline
- Richard Keenlyside
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
TL;DR:
This article breaks down why project and programme recovery often fails and how seasoned leadership, strategic clarity, and robust governance can turn the tide. Discover battle-tested insights from over three decades of hands-on recovery experience across diverse sectors.
Introduction: When Projects Derail, Strategy Must Prevail
In my role as Global CIO and transformation advisor, I’ve seen one truth repeated across sectors: projects fail, but they don’t have to stay that way. Whether due to scope creep, governance failures, or underestimated complexity, the symptoms of a failing initiative are consistent. Recovery, however, demands uncommon clarity, swift action, and deeply strategic leadership.
Understanding the DNA of Project Recovery
What Triggers Project Failure?
More often than not, it's not a lack of talent but a lack of direction. Common culprits include:
Misaligned stakeholder expectations
Weak governance structures
Inflexible scope and change controls
Poor communication across business units
Recognising the Warning Signs
Delayed milestones, unclear accountabilities, and rising costs signal a project in decline. Recognising these early and taking decisive action is the first step in project recovery.
A CIO’s Approach to Programme Recovery
Strategy Before Technology
True project recovery starts at the strategic layer. Before diving into tools or reassigning tasks, ask: “Is this initiative still aligned with the business’ strategic goals?”
Programme Governance is Non-Negotiable
Recovery hinges on:
Establishing clear ownership
Resetting programme governance
Realigning to new business realities post-reassessment
I introduced a global programme governance model that turned around a failed retail ERP deployment. By re-scoping, reassessing vendor performance, and redefining success metrics, the business regained control and credibility.
Transformation Leadership in Action
From retail to oil & gas, my interventions have followed a proven model:
Rapid Diagnostic Review – Reassessing scope, stakeholders, and business readiness
Strategic Realignment – Aligning goals to current capabilities and market conditions
Structured Restart – Milestone-based re-launch with performance metrics
Governance Reset – Regular risk and performance reviews, executive dashboards
In one instance, I helped recover a multi-million-pound transformation across 13 global business units by standardising platforms, stabilising cybersecurity, and renegotiating vendor SLAs, resulting in a £2M technical debt reduction in under a year.
Building Resilience into Future Projects
Embed Recovery Thinking from the Start
Waiting for failure to engage recovery expertise is a mistake. Instead:
Build flexibility into your scope
Design governance with risk in mind
Engage stakeholders consistently
Tools Are Amplifiers, Not Solutions
Don’t let the tools dictate your recovery. Whether it’s ERP (SAP, Oracle, Infor) or AI-driven platforms, success comes from leadership, not software alone.
FAQs
Q: What is project recovery in simple terms?
Project recovery is the process of rescuing a failing or stalled initiative, realigning it with business goals, and putting it back on track to deliver expected outcomes.
Q: When should I bring in a recovery expert?
The moment key milestones slip or stakeholder confidence wanes, bring in an expert. Early intervention saves time, money, and credibility.
Q: Is recovery more about people or process?
Both. But without strong leadership and stakeholder alignment, even the best processes fall short.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Action
Project recovery is not just about fixing—it’s about transforming. It’s a chance to reset, realign, and reinvigorate your organisation’s strategic agenda. With the right leadership and governance, even the most troubled programmes can succeed.
Richard Keenlyside is the Global CIO for the LoneStar Group and a former IT Director for J Sainsbury’s PLC.
Call me on +44(0) 1642 040 268 or email richard@rjk.info.
Follow me on X https://x.com/cioinpractice & LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardkeenlyside/
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