Knowing When to Let Go The Dead Horse
Have you ever seen a failing project that just won’t be shut down? Instead of moving on, companies pour in more resources, change leadership, or alter strategies—while ignoring the simple truth: the horse is dead. This is the essence of the Dead Horse Theory, which highlights how organizations struggle to let go of failing initiatives. We encounter Corporate Dead Horses when persistence turns into stagnation. In the business world, failed projects often continue well past their prime because of sunk costs, emotional attachment, or the reluctance to admit failure. Instead of acknowledging reality, organizations might try to fix it by changing their ways of working. - Assign a new project manager. - Change the strategy or methodology. - Increase the budget. - Conduct endless meetings to “find a solution.” I once worked with a company that was inducting it's new employes by showing age old videos of how the organisation grew over years. The management felt a sense of pride to share ...