Understand gates, red flags and their effect on results

Read the overall result alongside important findings. A strong maturity result can still contain a practice that needs prompt attention.

Review the finding in context

Check the question, the answer, the guidance and the information supporting it. Find out whether the issue is an unmet practice, an uncertain answer or a gap in the evidence. Ask the person responsible for the practice to confirm the situation before drawing a conclusion.

Turn the finding into action

Record what needs to change, who owns the work and when it will be reviewed. Explain any uncertainty in the report so leaders can see the result and its limits. Keep the earlier assessment as a record of what was known at the time, then use a later review to show progress.