Great teams still miss launch dates when dependency management is weak.
This is rarely a capability issue. It is a coordination issue.
Where slips really start
Most plans track tasks, not dependency chains.
So one late deliverable quietly blocks three others.
Founders discover the risk too late, when costs are already compounding.
What to do instead
Run launches with:
- clear dependency owners
- critical-path visibility
- weekly risk reviews
- strict launch-scope boundaries
Predictability improves fast when dependencies are treated as first-class work.