So you've decided to jump on that AI train......That's great, but how about your people, how are you going to bring them along with you. How will they learn the skills the company is going to need?

First, clearly define the specific business challenge you're facing. AI is most effective when applied to well-defined problems.

Breakthroughs come from integration: Studies of interdisciplinary AI teams found that diverse backgrounds drive higher adoption and more effective outcomes than siloed experts

The reality is that the rigid application of either Agile or Waterfall rarely fits the messy reality of complex delivery. 

Tech goes live. Nothing changes. Why? The impact? Tech goes live but the business doesn't change. Adoption is low. Outcomes are diluted...

Project failure doesn't happen overnight. But slowly, deadlines slip, teams disengage and momentum evaporates. 7 warning signs to watch out for are:

Successful projects are more than just on-budget and on-time, real value comes from benefits realisation. You can deliver the best project in the world, but if it doesn't deliver the benefits, then it's all been for nothing. Make sure there are measurable benefits at the start of the project, review them regularly and host post-project reviews with Business Owners.

The difference between strategy and success is delivery. Without it, every brilliant idea remains just that - an idea. Brilliant ideas don't deliver outcomes, unfortunately. It's project management that ultimately makes those ideas a reality.

And honestly, most projects fail because of a lack of clarity and alignment, because people can't answer these questions:

On large projects and programmes, keeping track of everyone's feelings, needs, and requirements can feel like an impossible task. And don't even get me started on comms.....it's a lot to keep up with

Deciding on the best projects to deliver business value is never easy and that's no different for AI projects.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈. Replacing humans isn't the answer. Making people more capable, creative and productive with the use of AI is.

Strategy might be critical but if it can't be turned into outcomes that people can actually deliver, then it's literally not worth the paper it's written on.

Don't rush in, proper planning ensures alignment to strategy and vision, awareness of business and people capacity, with clear success criteria and measurable ROIs.

BUT what I've learnt through my AI journey is that traditional business cases don't fit the realities of AI projects. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐈 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭? 𝐀𝐈 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 

You can have the best intentions, and talented teams but still have your project stall. After years of helping organisations deliver, from rescuing critical iniatives through to end to end delivery, I've seen the same patterns again and again:

A project hits roadblocks, deadlines slip, and suddenly you're leading a team that's lost faith in the programme. Morale drops, productivity plummets. Here's how to turn things around:

We will explore the benefits of fractional consulting for delivery leadership, how it works, and why it might be the right choice for your organisation.

This blog post will explore practical solutions to common project management challenges, providing you with a roadmap to success.