Tech Projects Gone Wild

We hear all the time from senior business leaders here in our community how technology enablement projects have a way of taking on a life of their own.

They start with good intentions, maybe even a solid plan, but somewhere along the way, they morph into an unruly beast that’s draining resources, stretching patience, and leaving everyone wondering, “How did we end up here?”

It's fair to say this is a common challenge, whether or not businesses are ready to admit it. Many dive headfirst into technology enablement, automation, or the latest shiny platform, believing it will solve all their problems. But more often than not, they end up caught in a web of complexity, budget overruns, and unexpected internal resistance. At some point, you have to ask yourself: “Do we have this under control, or is it time to call in the cavalry?”

Spotting telltale signs that your project may be heading off the rails as soon as possible is key, followed very quickly by whether now is the right time to bring in a consultant to help save the day.

1. The “It Should Be Simple” Fallacy

If you’ve ever started a project thinking, “This should be easy enough,” only to realise you’ve bitten off way more than you can chew?

Take the company that thought switching to a new CRM would be a weekend job. Fast forward six months, and they were drowning in data migration nightmares, half-baked integrations, and a sales team threatening mutiny. As it turns out, “simple” is a dangerous word in tech.

When to call for backup: If your “quick upgrade” is turning into a slow-motion disaster, it’s time to bring in someone who’s done it before—because they already know the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

2. The Frankenstein Effect

When a tech stack looks like Frankenstein’s monster—bits and pieces of different platforms stitched together with duct tape and hope. Sure, it might work most of the time, but when something breaks (and it always does), finding the root cause feels like solving a mystery novel.

Integration is where dreams go to die. If your systems aren’t talking to each other properly, you’ll end up with data silos, inefficiencies, and an IT team that constantly looks stressed.

When to call for backup: If you’re spending more time fixing things than using them, an outside expert can untangle the mess and get your tech working with you, not against you.

3. The Eternal Beta Phase

When you feel like a project is stuck in a never-ending cycle of “almost done” but never quite there? Welcome to the Eternal Beta Phase. It’s that awkward stage where you’ve invested too much to pull the plug but still don’t have anything useful to show for it.

One had been “testing” their new marketing automation system for over a year. A YEAR. Meanwhile, their competitors had already rolled out similar tech and were reaping the benefits.

When to call for backup: If you’ve been “nearly there” for longer than you’d like to admit, a consultant can help you push through the finish line and start seeing results.

4. The Human Factor (a.k.a. People Hate Change)

Let’s face it—people don’t like change. You can have the most cutting-edge solution in the world, but if your team isn’t on board, it’s all for nothing. If you’ve spent a fortune on a new ERP system, only to have employees secretly use their old spreadsheets behind the scenes, then something needs to be done.

Resistance to change is real, and it’s often the biggest hurdle to a successful rollout.

When to call for backup: If your people aren’t adopting the new system (or worse, actively avoiding it), an experienced consultant can step in with a solid change management strategy to get everyone rowing in the same direction.

5. Budget? What Budget?

You started with a reasonable budget. Then a few unexpected costs popped up. Then a few more. Before you know it, your project is bleeding money, and you’re scrambling to justify the spending to leadership. Sound familiar?

Tech projects rarely stay within their original budget, and if you’re not careful, they can turn into a financial black hole.

When to call for backup: If costs are spiralling and you have no idea where the money’s going, it’s time to bring in a consultant who can rein things in and get you back on track.

6. Security? Oh Right, That

Security tends to be an afterthought—until it’s not. When companies roll out new platforms with zero thought given to cybersecurity, they face major headaches (and compliance fines) down the road.

If you’re handling sensitive data, compliance requirements aren’t optional, and ignoring them can have serious consequences.

When to call for backup: If security and compliance are making you nervous (or worse, you haven’t thought about them at all), bring in an expert before it’s too late.

7. The “We Can Handle It” Trap

This is probably the most common mistake - businesses believe they can handle it all in-house. And maybe you can but should you?

Your team might be brilliant at what they do, but expecting them to suddenly become tech implementation experts is asking for trouble. Sometimes, you need an outside perspective to spot the blind spots and streamline the process.

When to call for backup: If your team is stretched too thin, constantly firefighting, or just plain overwhelmed, it’s time to bring in reinforcements.

Final Thoughts – Knowing When to Wave the White Flag

Tech enablement projects can be complex, messy, and frustrating. And that’s okay—if you know when to call in help. Whether it’s defining clearer goals, fixing integration nightmares, or getting your team on board, the right consultant can make all the difference.

So if your tech project feels like it’s spinning out of control, don’t wait until it’s too late. A fresh pair of eyes and some expert guidance might be exactly what you need to turn things around—and finally get that beast under control.

And hey, admitting you need help? That’s not a failure. That’s smart leadership.