# Escalation process

### **What constitutes a “crisis?”**&#x20;

We don’t have the resources or/and team’s confidence to successfully deliver the project and immediate senior intervention is required.&#x20;

**What is the Andon Cord?**&#x20;

The [Andon Cord](https://www.sixsigmadaily.com/what-is-an-andon-cord/) is a Lean manufacturing principle and tool used to notify management and other team members of a quality, client or process problem that needs immediate attention.&#x20;

**Where and how to flag issues?**&#x20;

Slack command for /andon in any Slack channel which then notifies the core leadership team.

* Project team down tools
* Core leadership establish who is best placed to own the resolution&#x20;

**Who can flag an issue?**

Anyone!&#x20;

**The first 24 hrs after an issue is identified**&#x20;

* Description of issues using the following [template](https://docs.google.com/document/d/10MKWtExxsqiOPH_u1rhcM9Aarxx3xAMe2FDfhvi-Dsk/edit). A new risk card should be added to ‘project oversight’ where this is linked from and updated as our knowledge of the root cause of the problem develops.
* Personal overall accountable for the account on the project oversight board is responsible for leading the investigation of the issue (see project oversight board if unsure)&#x20;
* Add next steps to be the issues template within 24 hours of the issue being identified. This should include
  * ETA for completion and who is responsible for each action&#x20;
* Share issues template and discuss potential commercial impact with Commercial or Managing Director&#x20;
* Delivery Manager to facilitate a meeting with the team to share plan for the upcoming day(s)
* Managing or Commercial Director to support delivery team with comms to client, if required

**During resolution**&#x20;

* Daily call with accountable account lead + Managing Director
* Delivery Manager to send end of day update to the client, if required&#x20;
* Any changes with regards to commercial impact reported in real-time in the issue template

**At which point is this process no longer required?**

When all members of the resolution team agree that the project is no longer in “crisis” mode and we are safe to resume to normal project mode.

**Post resolution**&#x20;

* Team retrospective to unpick root causes and learnings for next project&#x20;
* Any company-wide learning’s are shared and documented


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