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"AI Project Stage Gates

Ps & Ts in the Green.

Warning Lights Off. Proceed As Planned"

A Practical Assurance & Governance Framework for AI Projects: A Guide for IT Programme Directors Who Must Run AI Delivery Safely

Hi, I’m Ivan Snell, I help CIOs, IT Programme Directors and IT Leaders maintain control of complex IT projects and programmes, including AI projects, and ensure delivery confidence.

I most often worked with IT senior leaders across industries and continents to turn around troubled IT programmes, regaining delivery confidence, stakeholder alignment, and business outcomes.

We have seen time and time again that traditional IT projects benefit from the use of quality stage gates between project stages to assure the project is ready to move to the next stage. This is also especially true for AI projects due to the nature of their iterative and incremental development approach. The inherent uncertainties, ethical constraints, and potential for high costs in AI projects and initiatives make these formal review checkpoints essential.

With this guide you will find a structured approach to AI project stage gates to help you mitigate the unique risks that AI projects encounter, including technical feasibility issues, data quality problems, model drift, bias, and compliance challenges.

Lets start de-risking your AI Project today.

"Ivan is an energetic and experienced programme leader who navigates the complexities and challenges of Agile delivery with confidence and clarity. A genuinely strong, diligent programme leader with tremendous drive and commitment."

Daniel Green, Director, Data Management at the EBRD

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN INSIDE THIS GUIDE

THE SEVEN STAGE GATES

Gain access to a structured, stage-gate-driven framework used to bring clarity, confidence, and predictability to AI projects and initiatives. Each stage includes practical readiness checks and “Go / No Go” criteria—your equivalent of checking a helicopter’s engine Pressure & Temperature (Ps &Ts) are in the green before proceeding with the flight.

EARLY SIGNS YOUR PROJECT IS MISALIGNED

Identify the subtle—but critical—indicators that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) delivery teams often miss. From unclear business understanding, weak data readiness, and data drift to misaligned governance and misleading status reporting—this guide helps you surface risks before they escalate.

Learn how to re-establish project reality using grounded checkpoints, transparent assumptions, and evidence-based stage readiness. You’ll understand how to reset expectations, strengthen decision-making, and ensure each stage gate reflects true progress—not optimistic slideware.

REALITY-BASED DELIVERY ALIGNMENT

Use the stage-gate model to bring sponsors, SMEs, data teams, and delivery leads back into alignment. Rebuild trust through predictable checkpoints, clearer visibility, and shared understanding of what “ready to proceed” actually means. These approaches come directly from real, high-stakes programme work—not theory.

STAKEHOLDER CONFIDENCE & ALIGNMENT

Trusted by FTSE-listed enterprises and global COOs to lead and recover digital transformation programmes worth £10M–£100M+.

Industry reputation for being able to motivate disenchanted project team members, bring everyone together and turn teams around.

Proven track record across SAP, Microsoft, and Cloud-native ecosystems, delivering results in complex, high-stakes environments like EBRD, Reckitt, Danone, BG Group, and more.

30+ years of cross-industry leadership, including turnaround of failing programmes, safeguarding financial reporting, and unlocking over £100M in business benefits.

WHAT CLIENTS HAVE SAID ABOUT IVAN...

Ivan is pragmatic, and very business focused with the ability to apply technical concepts in a practical way. He works in an extremely professional responsive manner, managing and delegating well, with the ability to raise and deal with issues at the appropriate levels.

Congratulations Snell Consultancy with delivering our project on time, correct scope and under budget! Famous triple-constraint tackled. Your Programme Manager, Ivan Snell, who delivered our project, has all the attributes of a world-class senior IT delivery professional.

The enormous drive and enthusiasm that Ivan devotes to everything he does enabled the project to be completed with tight timescales. The constant flow of ideas and comments substantially added to the success and knowledge of his clients. His competence in handling the subject in large negotiation meetings gave us a professional edge over potential suppliers. His integrity is absolutely not in question.

Judi Edwards – IT Director, Signet Group plc

VP Finance & Senior Business User, Oil & Gas Major, Brasil, South America

Robert Gorrie – IT Director, TDG Group plc

Keeping your ‘Ps & Ts in the green’ — and moving your AI or ML Project safely to the next Stage Gate — is just one click away…

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