The transition of projects to live operations is a critical phase in an asset’s lifecycle. Large capital projects across energy, infrastructure, transportation, mining, manufacturing, or data centers are usually managed to meet the “iron triangle” of cost, schedule, and scope. Yet even organizations that hit these targets often struggle to turn completed projects into value through efficient startups and safe, reliable, and sustainable operations.

Operational readiness is often misunderstood as a technical milestone.  However, a recurring pattern persists: projects meet their engineering, cost, and schedule objectives yet still struggle to achieve stable and reliable operations despite apparent technical completeness. This paradox reveals a deeper reality: Operational readiness is not a technical problem; it is fundamentally a sociotechnical one.