Major projects are complex and carry high risks. A Project Health Check gives you a clear, independent and objective view of the true state of your project, before hidden risks turn into critical problems.

"On average, large IT projects run 45 percent over budget and 7 percent over time; 17 percent go so bad that they can threaten the very existence of the company." Source: McKinsey and University of Oxford, study of more than 5,400 IT projects

Why conduct a project health check?

A project health check validates the true progress and risk exposure of a major project, with an independent, fact-based perspective. We help leadership teams to:

  • validate progress status and risk exposure;
  • identify critical gaps in governance, vendor management, execution and adoption;
  • formulate concrete recommendations to put the project back on track;
  • secure your investment and meet your deadlines.

What does the PlanAxion approach involve?

The approach relies on structured interviews, a fact-based review of project documentation and a rigorous assessment of governance and execution. Concretely, the health check includes:

  • structured interviews with key stakeholders;
  • analysis of project documentation, risk registers and progress reports;
  • assessment of governance, execution and go-live readiness;
  • practical, prioritized recommendations;
  • a clear presentation tailored to senior management.

When should you conduct a project health check?

A health check is warranted as soon as warning signs appear: questionable progress reports, repeated delays, leadership changes, multiple vendors or a history of failure. Typical situations include:

  • doubt about the reliability of progress reports;
  • repeated delays on critical milestones, such as testing or data migrations;
  • leadership change or internal reorganization;
  • multiple vendors and complex integrations;
  • a history of project failure that heightens risk sensitivity.

What benefits can you expect?

The health check gives decision makers full visibility into the project and enables early identification of risks and corrective actions. It strengthens internal governance and vendor accountability, while protecting budgets, timelines and operational objectives.

Why trust PlanAxion?

PlanAxion health checks are performed by senior project managers who specialize in project recovery and deliver independent, factual and objective assessments. The recommendations are pragmatic, adapted to operational reality, and grounded in concrete results achieved on critical transformation projects.

What should you remember before launching a health check?

The earlier a risk is detected, the simpler the corrective actions: that is the whole logic of a project health check. An independent, objective assessment, delivered in a clear format for senior management, secures the investment, strengthens execution and helps ensure project success.

Frequently asked questions

What is a project health check?

A project health check is an independent, factual and objective assessment of the true state of a major project. It validates progress and risk exposure, identifies gaps in governance, vendor management, execution and adoption, then formulates concrete recommendations to put the project back on track before problems become critical.

When should a project health check be triggered?

As soon as a warning sign appears: doubt about the reliability of progress reports, repeated delays on critical milestones such as testing or data migrations, a leadership change, multiple vendors with complex integrations, or a history of project failure that heightens sensitivity to risk on the current project.

What does a project health check actually deliver?

The health check delivers practical, prioritized recommendations, presented in a clear format tailored to senior management. It draws on structured interviews with key stakeholders, analysis of project documentation, risk registers and progress reports, as well as an assessment of governance, execution and go-live readiness.

Who performs health checks at PlanAxion?

Senior project managers who specialize in project recovery. They deliver independent, factual and objective assessments, formulate pragmatic recommendations adapted to operational reality, and have achieved concrete results on critical transformation projects, notably in strengthening governance and reinforcing vendor accountability.

Key takeaways
  • A PlanAxion Project Health Check provides a clear, independent and objective view of the true state of a major project, before hidden risks become critical.
  • According to the McKinsey and University of Oxford study of more than 5,400 IT projects, large projects run 45 percent over budget on average and 17 percent threaten the very existence of the company.
  • The approach combines structured interviews, documentation analysis, governance assessment and prioritized recommendations, presented in a format tailored to senior management.
  • Typical triggers: questionable progress reports, repeated delays on critical milestones, leadership changes, multiple vendors or a history of project failure.