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Is Amberguity stalling your projects?

Updated: Jan 23

You’ve likely heard the statistic: 70% of projects fail. While this has been a known issue for years, progress in addressing it remains limited.


At the heart of this failure is a common but often overlooked issue, that we call Amberguity. This is the breakdown in communication and decision-making across the organisation that impedes the flow of crucial information and so prevents project success.


Amberguity affects all projects, transformations, and changes. It’s the reason many initiatives struggle, and it’s more than just a problem—it’s a systemic challenge that requires a new approach.


Amberguity stalls projects

At Gluestep, we’ve developed a unique understanding of Amberguity, how it disrupts productivity, and how to address it. The solution lies in recognizing the three key elements of any project: people + delivery mechanism + content.


While much focus has been placed on optimizing the latter two—through agile techniques and other process improvements for instance—project failure rates remain stubbornly high. The true root cause is people. Specifically, how they communicate, make decisions, and connect within a project context.


Amberguity arises from unclear communication, incomplete or postponed decision-making, and ineffective status reporting. It's evident when teams rely on vague, non-committal “amber” ratings on status reports—indicating a potential problem without taking ownership or initiating action. This weakens accountability and leads to confusion, ultimately resulting in delayed responses to risks and issues.


The traditional Red-Amber-Green (RAG) status system often exacerbates the issue. Rather than acting as a clear indicator of severity, “amber” becomes a non-answer—a signal that something may be wrong, without truly addressing it. Teams hesitate to escalate issues to “red” for fear of overreacting or displeasing senior leadership. The result? A two-level system of amber and green, which undermines decision-making and erodes accountability.


So what can be done?


At Gluestep, we have the solution. Through our Amberguity Index, we measure the impact of Amberguity on a project or portfolio, pinpointing where communication and decision-making are breaking down, or will break down in the future. With the Gluestep system, we help organizations manage and overcome these inefficiencies, ensuring that information flows clearly, decisions are made with clarity, and issues are addressed promptly—before they derail your projects.


Amberguity is not just about unclear communication—it’s about how organizations function at their core. It's about how teams connect, how information flows, and how decisions are made. Tackling Amberguity means fostering an environment where real issues are identified early and acted upon quickly, driving productivity and improving project outcomes.


Gluestep can help you get there.

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