When Did We Stop Asking If This Is Working?

I was staring at my computer screen in disbelief.

Tender document open. Third time around. Same broken system that’s consumed $200+ million and six years of precious time and energy.

Still running. Still funded. Still broken.

When did we stop asking if this is working?The Business Case We Never Write

Here’s what hit me: We demanded a bulletproof business case to start this thing. Models, projections, risk assessments. The works.

But to keep throwing money at something that’s demonstrably not working?

No business case required.

This is backwards.

We’re rigorous about starting. Reckless about continuing.

Failed systems linger for years without scrutiny. Broken processes burn through budgets unchallenged. Underperforming implementations just… keep going.

Why? Because stopping feels like failure. Because someone important championed it five years ago. Because there’s no clear owner anymore.

Because inertia is easier than accountability.The Real Cost

$200+ million. Six years. Countless workarounds. Frustrated teams. Let-down citizens.

All because we’re more comfortable funding failure than facing it.

A Different Question

At Guident, we ask the question others avoid: Is this actually working?

No blame. No theatre. Just clarity.

• What’s required by law?
• What delivers outcomes?
• What’s bleeding resources?

We build around what works. Cut what doesn’t. Move forward.

The Courage to Stop

Most vendors help you start something.

We’re the ones you call when it’s time to stop the bleeding and fix what actually matters.

Because sometimes the most innovative thing you can do is admit something isn’t working… and do something about it.