Recommendation 4

On too many occasions, programmes have suffered from resets being done too quickly. The time needed to undertake a successful reset will vary case-by-case, influenced by factors such as the programme complexity and breadth of the reset. Resets of government programmes have on occasion taken less than three months and sometimes more than a year. Teams can underestimate how much time a reset can take. There can be pressures to complete resets quickly, with teams not being given the space and time to think about the next steps; if a reset is being undertaken it must be done properly, otherwise it simply increases the risk of further resets. Recommendation 4: By June 2024, HM Treasury and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority should have drawn together and shared with the profession its insights on the factors influencing the time needed to undertake a reset and Resetting government programmes 7 encourage programme teams to be realistic on the time they need. In doing this they should review their own processes to ensure they do not introduce milestones that incentivise rushed resets.