NextGen Delivery: From Damage Limitation to Collision Avoidance

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1 (F1), success hinges on precision, adaptability, and a relentless focus on the future. Every millisecond counts, and even the smallest miscalculation can mean the difference between victory and disaster. While the world of major programme management may not involve screaming engines and hairpin turns, the parallels are striking. Just like in F1, a purely reactive approach is no longer sufficient. Today's complex programmes demand a shift from "damage limitation" towards "collision avoidance" – a proactive, forward-looking strategy akin to how F1 teams approach a race. This is NextGen Delivery — anticipating and mitigating risks before they become critical issues.

Imagine an F1 car limping into the pit lane with a blown tire, trailing smoke, and sparks. This is the embodiment of reactive problem-solving – addressing an issue after it has already occurred, costing precious time, and potentially jeopardising the entire race. In major programme management, this translates to scrambling to contain the fallout of unforeseen issues, blowing through budgets, and missing deadlines. Instead of constantly putting out fires, programme teams must learn to anticipate potential issues and navigate around them entirely.
 

Major Programme Management as a Team Sport: The F1 Analogy
 

Consider these parallels between F1 and leading a major programme; you wouldn’t dare enter a race without:

• The Race Director (Programme Director): Picture the intense pressure of the Race Director's box, monitoring a complex web of data feeds, weather patterns, and potential hazards. The Race Director makes split-second decisions with far-reaching consequences, ensuring a safe, fair, and strategically sound race. Likewise, the Programme Director keeps a steady hand on the wheel of a major transformation, providing strategic oversight, navigating unforeseen obstacles, and guiding the programme towards success.
• The Driver (The Programme Manager): Both need a calm head, the ability to make informed decisions under pressure, and a deep understanding of their vehicle (the programme) and the track (the programme environment). Like an F1 driver who needs to be adaptable to changing race conditions, a Programme Manager who embraces this proactive, forward-looking approach can steer the programme more effectively. Major programmes need a cohesive and high-performing leadership team that evolves and adapts based on the programme phase and needs.
• The Pit Crew (A High Performing Programme Team): Assembling a crew of experts with diverse skills and a shared dedication to speed and precision is crucial for both F1 and major programme delivery. Just as the pit crew executes lightning-fast tire changes and adjustments, a programme team relies on diverse expertise to tackle challenges efficiently.
• Telemetry (Digital Catalyst Capabilities): Just as F1 teams leverage real-time data to analyse performance and make strategic decisions, with McLaren running 360,000 simulations per second, programmes need insightful metrics and reporting to steer their trajectory toward success. Deloitte’s Digital Catalyst leverages technologies such as predictive analytics, digital twins, and control towers to design more precise, impactful solutions delivered with greater flexibility.
• The Virtual Track (Scenario Planning): Imagine testing different strategies and anticipating potential roadblocks before they become catastrophic crashes. This is the power of scenario planning, allowing you to adapt and pivot with agility. By proactively scanning the horizon of major programmes, continuously developing choices, assessing options, and evaluating outcomes throughout the lifecycle of the programme, leadership gain the ability to anticipate future needs.

Deloitte's approach to programme management is not about rigidly following a pre-determined plan. Instead, it's about anticipating and adapting to new challenges, much like a Formula 1 driver maintains awareness of the track to stay ahead. This approach, known as Programme Aerodynamics®, is what fuels NextGen Delivery. It combines new thinking and technologies with best-in-class programmatic disciplines to create a forward-looking, data-driven, and human-centered delivery capability. It's time to ditch the purely reactive mindset, embrace the Formula 1 approach, and allow Programme Aerodynamics® to guide your next major programme toward success.