Put it into practice
Review three recent escalations and identify the earliest visible signal.
Write the threshold or condition in observable language.
Ask the owner to test an example just inside and just outside the boundary.
A case to think through
A project is escalated when its forecast completion threatens a promised date, rather than waiting until the promise has already been missed.
This is a hypothetical operating example, not a client result.A boundary worth checking
A trigger based only on a manager's confidence can vary unpredictably between people and days.
An appropriate escalation can be evidence that the boundary works. Judge the reason, timing and outcome rather than seeking the lowest possible number of questions. Urgent safety, security and specialist incidents retain their established response routes; a general delegation exercise does not replace them.
Your handover working notes
Use these prompts with the person taking ownership. Record the agreement within your existing permissions.
| Prompt | Notes from your case |
|---|---|
| Situation | |
| early signal | |
| trigger | |
| next action |
What if the trigger catches too many cases?
Review the evidence and adjust through the agreed owner. Do not quietly ignore a control because it is inconvenient.
Give one decision a clear owner.
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