Escalate red items to the steering committee

Anything with Impact = Critical that is still open after two weekly reviews goes to the steering committee, whether or not it feels ready to escalate.

Bring three things per item: what will happen, what it costs, what decision you need from them. Escalating without a specific ask turns the committee into an audience.

Escalation is not failure. An issue that sat unescalated for a month because it felt embarrassing is failure.