Are Your Projects in Good Health?
Projects are like the human body — they require all parts to be functioning correctly and in tip top condition — if they are not then parts of the body will not work correctly, cease functioning all together, and ultimately affect other areas. To prevent this happening we visit the Doctor, and, as we get older, we have health checks to stop parts of the body from deteriorating. Project Managers need to treat their projects like a living creature.
At Growth Turbine we are used to delivering complex change and transformation projects. Whilst the work we do varies dramatically from one client to the next, we often find that there are many similarities from one project to the next.
Often, we work with clients that are part way through a complex project where they find that the programme or project is faltering. In these cases, our questioning and focus as Consultants relates directly to the "health" of the project.
Something we recommend to our clients regularly, and something that is a quick and easy way to understand the health of a programme or project, is to run a health check based on the following nine questions:
9 Questions to Ask Yourself About the Health of Your Programme or Project
- Is your programme/project running to time?
- Is your programme/project running to budget?
- Do you get sight of the right management information about your programme/projects?
- Do you trust the information you receive about your programme/projects?
- Are you monitoring/tracking the right risks within the programme/projects?
- Are your programme/project issues being managed — can you see progress from week to the next?
- Is your programme/project producing the right quality of deliverables/documentation?
- Does your programme/project have any assurance to help keep it on track and hold people accountable?
- Do you feel like you really know and understand the "ins and outs" of your programme/project?
If the answer to any of the above is "no" for a programme or project you are running, it is probably a strong sign that it isn't functioning correctly, doesn't have the right assurance and support in place and at some point now or in the future, is likely to start to experiencing health issues.
Pro Tip: These nine questions work equally well for startup founders evaluating their fundraising projects. If you are running a Reg CF equity crowdfunding campaign or Reg A+ offering, apply the same health check framework: Is your campaign running to timeline? Is investor acquisition on budget? Are you tracking the right metrics? A healthy fundraising campaign requires the same disciplined project management as any complex transformation programme.
The Role of the PMO in Project Health
One of the most effective ways to prevent your projects experiencing health issues is to ensure you have a PMO (Programme/Project Management Office) supporting the programme or project. Think of the PMO a lot like a Doctors Surgery, keeping your projects in good condition!
The role of the PMO is often undervalued and overlooked but when an effective PMO is placed at the centre of a programme or project, rarely does it experience health issues. From coordinating and documenting the programme or projects meetings to full on risk management, reporting and change control, an effective PMO is the heartbeat of well-run projects.
For insights on how structured management approaches apply across different industries, our articles on management consulting in 2020 and successful account management explore how leading firms maintain project health through systematic processes and strong client relationships.
Pro Tip: The PMO framework applies directly to marketing campaign management. At Growth Turbine, we apply project management discipline to every performance marketing campaign we run — tracking KPIs weekly, managing risks proactively, and ensuring deliverables meet quality standards. Whether you are managing a construction programme or an Instagram marketing campaign for crowdfunding, the principles of project health are universal.
Project Health Check Summary
| Health Check Area | What to Look For | Red Flag |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Milestones being hit on schedule | Consistent slippage without recovery plan |
| Budget | Spend tracking against forecast | Cost overruns with no visibility into cause |
| Information Quality | Accurate, timely reporting to stakeholders | Data you don't trust or can't verify |
| Risk Management | Active risk register with mitigation plans | Risks identified but never actioned |
| Issue Resolution | Visible progress week over week | Same issues recurring without resolution |
| Deliverable Quality | Documentation meets standards | Incomplete or inconsistent outputs |
| Assurance | Independent checks and accountability | No governance or review mechanisms |
| Visibility | Deep understanding of project status | Surprises and blind spots |
So… how healthy are your projects?
Need Help Getting Your Project Back on Track?
Whether it is a marketing campaign, a fundraising initiative, or a complex transformation programme, Growth Turbine brings structured project management and performance marketing expertise to help you deliver results on time and on budget.
Talk to Our TeamPro Tip: The best time to implement a project health check is before problems emerge. Just as preventive medicine is more effective than reactive treatment, establishing a PMO function and regular health assessments at the start of your project costs far less than course-correcting a failing initiative. For fundraising projects specifically, tools like our burn rate calculator and runway calculator can help you proactively monitor financial health throughout your campaign.
Applying Project Health Principles to Fundraising
The nine health check questions above are particularly relevant for companies in the middle of raising capital. Whether you are running a Reg CF equity crowdfunding campaign, a Reg D 506(c) offering, or a Reg A+ raise, your fundraising effort is a project that needs the same rigorous management as any enterprise programme.
Consider how each question applies to your capital raise:
- Running to time? — Are you hitting your investor acquisition milestones for each phase of the campaign?
- Running to budget? — Is your marketing spend generating the expected return in qualified investor leads?
- Right management information? — Do you have clear dashboards showing investor pipeline, conversion rates, and campaign performance?
- Trust the information? — Are your analytics and attribution models giving you reliable data to make decisions?
- Tracking the right risks? — Have you identified regulatory, market, and execution risks and built mitigation plans?
Our case studies demonstrate how applying disciplined project management to fundraising campaigns consistently delivers better results than ad-hoc approaches.
Is Your Fundraising Campaign Healthy?
Growth Turbine applies structured project management to every fundraising campaign. From equity crowdfunding to Reg D offerings, we ensure your raise stays on track, on budget, and delivering results.
Get a Free Campaign Health CheckFrequently Asked Questions
What is a project health check?
A project health check is a structured assessment of a programme or project's current status across key dimensions including timeline, budget, risk management, information quality, issue resolution, deliverable quality, assurance, and overall visibility. It is designed to identify problems early before they become critical, similar to a medical health check for the human body.
What is a PMO and why is it important?
A PMO (Programme/Project Management Office) is a dedicated function that provides governance, coordination, and oversight for projects and programmes. The PMO handles everything from meeting coordination and documentation to full risk management, reporting, and change control. When an effective PMO is placed at the centre of a programme or project, it rarely experiences health issues — making the PMO the heartbeat of well-run projects.
How often should I conduct a project health check?
For complex programmes, a formal health check should be conducted monthly at minimum, with lighter weekly assessments of key indicators. For fundraising campaigns and marketing initiatives, weekly health checks against the nine questions are recommended because the pace of these projects demands faster feedback loops and course corrections.
What are the most common signs of an unhealthy project?
The most common warning signs include: consistent timeline slippage without recovery plans, budget overruns with no clear cause, unreliable reporting data, recurring issues that never get resolved, stakeholders feeling surprised by developments, and a general lack of visibility into the true status of deliverables and milestones.
How does project health apply to fundraising campaigns?
Fundraising campaigns — whether through Reg CF equity crowdfunding, Reg A+ offerings, or Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaigns — are projects that require the same disciplined management as any enterprise programme. Tracking investor acquisition milestones, marketing spend efficiency, conversion rates, and regulatory compliance are all critical health indicators for a successful raise.
What tools can I use to monitor project financial health?
For financial health monitoring, start with clear budget tracking and variance analysis. For startup fundraising specifically, tools like a burn rate calculator, runway calculator, and startup valuation calculator provide essential financial visibility. Combine these with regular stakeholder reporting and you will have strong financial governance.
Can a failing project be turned around?
Yes, but it requires honest assessment and decisive action. The nine health check questions are designed to surface problems early. Once issues are identified, implementing a PMO function, establishing clear governance, resetting expectations with stakeholders, and bringing in experienced programme managers can get a project back on track. The key is acting before problems compound.
What is the difference between project management and programme management?
A project is a temporary endeavour with a defined scope, timeline, and deliverables. A programme is a collection of related projects managed together to achieve strategic objectives. Programme management focuses on the interdependencies between projects, strategic alignment, and benefits realisation — requiring a broader perspective and more sophisticated governance than individual project management.
How do I implement a PMO for a small team or startup?
A PMO does not require a large team. For startups and small organisations, a lightweight PMO can be established by assigning PMO responsibilities to one person, implementing simple reporting templates, holding regular structured status meetings, maintaining a risk register, and establishing clear escalation paths. The key is consistency and discipline, not complexity. Even a one-person PMO adds tremendous value by ensuring accountability and visibility.
How does Growth Turbine apply project management to marketing campaigns?
At Growth Turbine, we apply structured account management and project governance to every performance marketing campaign. This includes weekly KPI reviews, risk tracking, milestone planning, and transparent client reporting. Whether we are managing a crowdfunding campaign, a brand development project, or a multi-channel investor acquisition programme, disciplined project management is what separates exceptional results from mediocre ones.
