An Expertise-Based Framework to Bring Projects to Life
ADVISORY ARTICLE
By David Tain
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Transitioning projects from execution to operations is the most complex step in the project lifecycle. Each organization has specific approaches, derived from the strategic objectives and the risk culture of the corporation, to bring projects to life in synchrony with the business. For this reason, the ability to declare readiness and safely start up an asset in the best possible time is a competitive edge in organizations as it lays the ground for efficiency in operations and profitability.
For an organization to be competitive, approaches to declare readiness must comprise transitional processes that inform decision-making, with a holistic view of how projects will transition to life, proactively aligning the state of a project at a specific time with the business needs. On the one hand, these transitional processes need to be flexible enough to adapt and identify the most optimal point at which the corporation can start realizing value from a capital expenditure, considering the unique circumstances surrounding project execution.
On the other hand, these processes must be robust enough to accurately identify all risks that could jeopardize the objectives for which the project was originally conceived. Operational Readiness, therefore, emerges as a critical strategic activity that, tailored to the organization, evaluates in detail all attributes of the project and integrates them with the business and the corporation. This strategic activity is based on experienced-based transitional processes oriented towards the timely realization of value though robust start up and sustainment of operations.
Starting up an asset without a robust Operational Readiness strategy is a major cause of cost increases, unexpected shutdowns and potential accidents. Studies in multiple projects have shown that up to 30% of the value of a capital program can be destroyed due to failures in assessing readiness to operate (Deloitte, 2012). Interestingly, these failures are not associated to technology infrastructure. Instead, challenges, emerge from the complexities derived from the “people” side of delivering the project and the operation itself. As a result, significant value is lost during project startup and production ramp-up due to insufficient preparation, incomplete information and unanticipated risks, leading to erratic production profiles and unexpected down times. Conceptually, this can be appreciated in the figure below where the differences between planned (expected) ramp-up has a considerable divergence with the actual production rates.
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How to cite this article: Tain, D. (2025). Operational Readiness: An Expertise-Based Framework to Bring Projects to Life, PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue V, May. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/pmwj152-May2025-Tain-Operational-Readiness-An-Expertise-Based-Framework.pdf
About the Author
David Tain
Alberta, Canada
David Tain is the Director of Septentrion Strategic Solutions LTD. With over 20 years of experience in Canada, South America and Europe, he has extensive expertise in developing and implementing Operational Readiness programs. He also has successfully led and delivered a broad range of projects and activities within Conceptual and Detailed Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, Start-up and Operations. He has worked alongside multinational energy organizations including Suncor, Total E&P, ConocoPhillips, Shell, AMEC, Statoil and PDVSA.
David has a BSc. in Civil Engineering from Santa Maria University in Venezuela, a MSc. In Management from University of Liverpool and a Professional Certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from Stanford University. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) credential in Canada.
Septentrion Strategic Solutions LTD. helps corporations to achieve their vision and increase competitiveness in today’s markets. With specialized solutions, we enhance operations and decision-making, creating and unlocking value at any stage. Using world-class techniques and innovation, we capitalize on complexity to design customized strategies and management processes, optimizing resources and enhancing organizational interactions to ensure the best possible outcomes for your projects and organizations.
For more information, visit www.septentrionglobal.com
