Case Study

The Challenge

This Retail client faced a challenging and deadline-driven transformation involving a strict deadline data centre exit and multiple cloud and on-premise migrations across 5 time zones. A multi-layered network of 10+ third-party suppliers created complexities in planning, governance, and communication. Supplier performance monitoring was limited, resulting in differing quality and delivery approaches across the ecosystem. Early-stage Statements of Work (SoWs) were often reviewed in isolation by multiple stakeholders due to the scale and complexity of the programme. This led to challenges in aligning timelines and expectations.

Perform Partners was brought in to take control of the transformation at an enterprise level. Not just to deliver projects, but to act as strategic orchestrators of complex change. Trust between parties was initially low, compounding the complexity and requiring careful relationship-building alongside delivery. We provided a blend of capabilities across enterprise programme delivery, cloud migration planning, and supplier management.

Our Approach

To lead through this complexity, our Change Squad deployed a repeatable, relationship-first model, rooted in governance, a client-first mindset, and delivery discipline. Our approach went beyond project management to reshape how the client engages suppliers, manages risk, and drives accountability at scale:

• Supplier Governance at Scale: Introduced a Kanban-style daily tracker to align supplier priorities, establish delivery cadence, and build visibility across all workstreams. This helped focus suppliers on the critical activities needed to deliver the programme objectives and fostered greater accountability
• Disciplined, relationship-led approach to escalations: Involved suppliers early on to build consensus and prevent adversarial dynamics, keeping the focus firmly on delivery
• Outcome-Based SoWs: Led an engagement with procurement and SMEs to reshape the existing SoWs to become more detailed and outcome-focused. Involved suppliers early to drive clarity and shared ownership
• Embedded Risk Management: Formalised processes to flag unsigned SoWs, prevent uncontrolled work, and enable proactive mitigation. Risks were reviewed weekly or daily, depending on urgency, to stay ahead of potential issues
• Role Clarity in Ambiguity: Provided clarity amid ambiguity by helping define and uphold clear roles across the business, making sure decisions were made by the right people at the right time
• Political Navigation & Trust Building: Navigated complex supplier relationships with diplomacy, balancing competing delivery partners and guiding PMO transitions seamlessly, all while maintaining momentum and building trust
• Commercial Confidence Amid Ambiguity: Kept delivery on track during challenging SoW negotiations by standing firm on pricing, clarifying scope, and taking calculated risks. Perform Partners placed a resilient Change Squad that navigated political pressure, guided stakeholders, and kept programme objectives front and centre