The Myth
When projects go wrong, the blame almost always falls on cost overruns or schedule delays. While those symptoms are easy to measure, they are rarely the true cause of failure. The reality is that deeper drivers are at work long before the budget is blown or the timeline slips.

The Underlying Issues
Project failure is often rooted in inadequate scope definition, poor risk allocation, weak documentation, or misaligned incentives among stakeholders. These hidden forces quietly undermine performance, only surfacing when the project is already in distress. By then, correcting courses are costly and disruptive.

Why This Matters
Emphasizing only cost and schedule may lead stakeholders to overlook systemic risks that influence project outcomes. Owners, contractors, and investors who do not address these factors may end up responding to issues after they arise rather than proactively managing them. It is important for project stakeholders to distinguish between symptoms and root causes when addressing potential problems.

A Better Lens
By shifting the focus from cost and schedule to the underlying structures of accountability, governance, and risk, project teams can spot trouble early. Independent oversight provides that lens by ensuring that cost and schedule outcomes are managed by addressing the risks that cause them.True project protection requires going beyond cost and schedule. At VeriSight, we help stakeholders uncover the real drivers of failure and address them before they surface.