This week: project clarity before big commitments
Hello fellow clarity builder
This week is about decision hygiene at the front end of projects.
Big complex projects are in the news. These three articles are connected. They ask, for complex projects, what value are we trying to create, where are we being too optimistic, and are people really engaged.
The common thread is that recent research points to the need to get the front end of complex projects right.
It is much easier to improve a project before money, momentum, and reputation make it hard to change.
Mega-projects need value clarity, not just better governance
This article explores an April 2026 report into mega-projects from the Office for Value for Money.
The report sets out the main changes the UK government is bringing in to improve mega-project performance. Better governance matters. But the deeper question is whether projects are clear enough about the value they are meant to create, how impact will be measured, and how decisions reduce uncertainty before commitments harden.
Always adjust for optimism
This article introduces Top Ten Behavioral Biases in Project Management from the University of Oxford.
Optimism bias is one of the common failure modes in project work. Plans can look safer than they are because people want the business case to work, the benefits to be real, and the timetable to be credible. That can lead to delay, unnecessary stress, and late correction.
Check real stakeholder engagement
This article explores APM’s research report AI-Driven Governance: Intelligent Stakeholder Strategy for Mega-Infrastructure Projects.
The useful point for everyday projects is that you can learn from the biggest and most complex work. A stakeholder plan is not enough. You need evidence that the right people are engaged, at the right time, on the right issues.
Project Setup
The Clarity Check
For all three points, you can run a check on your own project now.
Before the next major decision, ask:
- Are we clear on the value this project is meant to create?
- Have we tested where the plan may be too optimistic?
- Do we have evidence that the right people are really engaged?
The free Confluity Project Model > Project Setup check can help you see how your project is set up to succeed and get ideas on what to do next.
See you next time,
Greg
Use the free quick readiness check to identify the one thing to improve next.
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