The Vantage Meridian Recovery Protocol™

The four phases

1. Phase 1 Days 1-10

   Diagnose

   Independent diagnostic across scope, schedule, governance, capability and stakeholder alignment. Output: the Diagnostic Note - a written, board-ready statement of where the program is and what recovery requires.

   Artefacts: Project Assurance Checklist, RAID Register, Sponsor Update One-Page.

2. Phase 2 Days 11-25

   Re-baseline

   Re-cut scope, schedule and budget with traceable rationale. Output: the Re-baseline Pack - Stage Plan, revised Cost Plan and an Exception Plan that the steering committee can sign off without rewriting.

   Artefacts: Stage Plan, Cost Plan, Project Change Request, Exception Plan.

3. Phase 3 Days 26-40

   Re-govern

   Reset the governance pattern around the recovered baseline. Output: the Re-governance Pack - SteerCo Charter rewrite, Highlight Report cadence, RAG calibration and a decision rights map that names who decides what.

   Artefacts: SteerCo Charter, Highlight Report, Report Specification, RAG Rating Guide.

4. Phase 4 Days 41-60

   Re-mobilise

   Hand the recovered program back to permanent delivery leadership with the artefacts in place and the operating cadence running. Output: the Recovery Closure Note - a written handover that names what was fixed, what is still fragile and what the next steering committee needs to watch.

   Artefacts: Recovery Closure Note, End Project Report (partial), Operational Acceptance Criteria.

Recoverable vs unrecoverable

Not every program is worth recovering. When the evidence points to reset rather than recover, the Diagnostic Report says so in writing, with a credible reset path.