It is hard to believe, but according to Gartner’s latest CIO and Technology Executive Survey, only 48% of digital initiatives actually deliver on their business targets. That’s less than half—despite the time, energy, and buzz around them.
48% is a hard fact. But a small group of CIOs and CxOs are bucking that trend. They’re succeeding 71% of the time.
This isn’t an accident. They succeed by building an execution engine and putting it into action.
Here’s Their Play: Real Pilots, Real Proof
What sets these leaders apart? They run smart, tight pilot programs. Not grand experiments, but purposeful tests that prove what works—and what doesn’t.
They stick to a simple, four-step rhythm:
Plan → Do → Check → Act
1. Plan – A Pilot with Purpose
Pick a focused pilot that ties directly to strategic goals. Make sure executives are watching. And ensure the setup—your operating model—is genuinely scalable.
2. Do – Launch with Intent
Treat your pilot like the real thing. Run it with discipline. Track data. Make it less about test, more about real-world impact.
3. Check – Hold an Honest Review
Celebrate wins—but don’t gloss over the rough spots. What worked? What didn’t? What did users and stakeholders tell you?
4. Act – Pitch What Comes Next
Far too many pilots stall here. The real power is using pilot results to argue for broader rollout—first within a single line of business, then enterprise-wide.
Why This Works
Three winning execution strategies are at work here.
- Focused pilots serve to test ideas and prove process. It changes the conversation from “why change?” to “how soon can we scale?”
- Pilot projects can be easily prioritized into the pipeline without derailing momentum of other PPMO priorities in progress.
- At bats are important and wins, regardless of size, build momentum and confidence.
Full organizational transformation isn’t overnight—in fact it can take four to ten years in large global organizations. But a well-run pilot is a catalyst. It builds belief, confidence, and the internal momentum to go big.
Bottom Line
If your efforts feel stuck, consider scaling back. Launch a small, high-impact pilot. Prove the model. Then use the results to drive enterprise-level change.
Looking to setup your own PDCA engine. The ROPE Framework is a great start. Understand what is important and what is just noise.
