Published on
The Biggest Mistake in Projects: Assuming Acceptance Arrives With the Concept
The biggest mistake in projects is assuming that acceptance arrives once the concept is finished. I see the opposite: the concept is finished, and then the real work begins.
Introducing driver-based simulation into steering is a good example. The idea convinces quickly. Getting to actual use takes time.
The reason: driver-based is not only a model but a new way of arguing. Which cause drives which effect? How certain are we about that? If teams do not experience this early on a real model, scepticism remains. Too coarse. Data is missing. That is not how things work here.
This is exactly what proofs of concept are for. A contained pilot model puts reality on the table early: collect base data and expose the data gaps in the process. Translate the logic into formulas. Run first passes with simple values. Test sensitivities, moving assumptions up and down to see what happens. Then refine iteratively until the model is fit for use.
The effect: acceptance grows because resistance is not talked away but dissolved through learning loops.
A concept convinces the mind. A working model convinces the organisation.