Organizational momentum is hard to measure, but very real. A large federal agency had attempted three times to upgrade its core human resources system. All three efforts had stalled mid-stream, leaving behind a wariness of big technology initiatives. Because the agency’s leadership remained determined to succeed, KPMG was invited to lead a new effort.

The explicit goals of the project scope were ambitious. Less visibly, the implicit challenge was casting out the ghosts of previous initiatives and restoring the agency’s own belief in innovation. As KPMG and its client successfully navigated intricate milestones and speedbumps, what began as a collection of impersonal tasks to be completed became something much rarer – a living, breathing relationship and a foundation for revitalized agency confidence.