Episode 17 - The Myth of the Single Source of Truth

In this episode of The Critical Path, we explore why the idea of a single source of truth often breaks down in complex delivery environments. While organisations aim for one clear version of reality, major programmes usually operate across multiple tools, teams, suppliers, and assumptions, each holding a different but valid view of progress. We discuss why schedule data, test evidence, procurement status, and engineering maturity often tell different stories, and why that does not always mean something is wrong. Instead, the real challenge is knowing which source is authoritative for which decision. This episode introduces a more practical alternative: lightweight data governance, clear ownership, explicit assumptions, and better cross-functional sense-making. Because in complex projects, leadership is not about finding one truth, it is about making coherent decisions across several realities.Key references:APM, Senior Managers’ Guide to Project Controls NASA, Systems Engineering Handbook NASA, Interface Management Lalli, V. R., Training Manual for Elements of Interface Definition and Control Shivers, C. H., Configuration and Data Management Process and the Impact on System Safety at NASA INCOSE, Developing Effective Space Systems with Earlier… INCOSE, Into the Great Digital Unknown