Diagnose

Delivery Friction Audit

Know exactly where to focus to create the most impact

Start here when:

  • •Your team's capacity is stuck in manual processes
  • •You want to integrate AI into your workflows, but don't know where to start
  • •AI pilots stalled or never made it past experimentation
  • •Work is trapped in handoffs, approvals, and missing context
  • •You need more capacity without adding headcount

What this phase delivers

Before recommending any technology or automation, we need to understand how your work actually runs. The Diagnose phase maps your current state, surfaces pain points through stakeholder interviews, and identifies the operational bottlenecks limiting your effectiveness.

You get a clear picture of where time and quality leak out of your processes, prioritised by impact and effort. We don't make assumptions or offer generic advice. We provide evidence-based analysis of your specific operational reality.

98% of AI investments fail to deliver transformational value. The 2% that succeed start with process expertise.

Gartner CIO Survey, cited in HBR “9 Trends Shaping Work in 2026 and Beyond”

That is what Diagnose is for. Understanding your operations before choosing any technology.

What we do

Stakeholder interviews

We speak with the people doing the work, not just leadership. Typically 5-12 interviews across different roles to understand where friction occurs, what workarounds exist, and what's preventing better outcomes.

Current state process mapping

Visual workflow maps showing how work moves from intake through delivery. We document handoffs, decision points, rework loops, and bottlenecks. You see exactly where time and quality are lost.

Opportunity identification

A prioritised list of improvement opportunities, scored by impact and implementation effort. We highlight quick wins alongside strategic initiatives, giving you options for immediate action and longer-term transformation.

Complexity assessment

Realistic effort estimates for each opportunity based on stakeholder count, systems involved, data quality, and change management requirements. You know what you're committing to before starting.

What you receive

Assessment Report

Comprehensive analysis including interview summaries, operational assessment, and prioritised opportunities with 1-2 focus areas recommended.

So you have: Clarity on where time actually goes

Visual Workflow Maps

Current state process diagrams showing bottlenecks, handoffs, rework loops, and inefficiencies in your existing workflows.

So you have: Shared understanding across stakeholders

Opportunity Matrix

Impact vs effort scoring for each improvement opportunity, with estimated time savings and quality improvements.

So you have: Confidence in what to fix first

Complexity Scoring

Transparent complexity assessment showing effort required for each opportunity based on stakeholders, systems, and change management needs.

So you have: No surprises on effort or investment

What good looks like

A clear picture of how work gets done. Mapped workflows showing exactly where capacity leaks, handoffs break, and rework accumulates. Evidence, not opinion.

Prioritised opportunities with numbers attached. Each improvement opportunity scored for impact, feasibility, and complexity. You know which workflows to fix first and why.

Something concrete for your leadership team. A report you can put in front of your board that says: here is what is broken, and here is what it costs us. No jargon, no speculation.

Confidence to make a decision. Whether that is proceeding to Define, building internally with the roadmap we have provided, or deciding the status quo is acceptable. You will have the evidence either way.

Timeline

Typically 2-4 weeks depending on stakeholder availability and organisational complexity.

  • Week 1: Kickoff and initial interviews
  • Week 2-3: Process mapping and analysis
  • Week 4: Report delivery and recommendations

Investment

Fixed-price engagement based on organisational complexity.

  • Clear scope and deliverables
  • No hourly rate uncertainty
  • Option to proceed to Define phase

Start with a discovery call

In 30 minutes, we'll map one workflow and show you where improvement opportunities exist. No obligation, no sales pitch.

Book Discovery Call