Unfinished initiatives, dubbed “zombie projects,” are weighing heavily on workplace productivity in India, according to new research released by Atlassian, highlighting how stalled work continues to drain time, morale and organisational resources.
The study found that more than half of Indian knowledge workers, around 53 percent, are currently dealing with zombie projects — initiatives that remain active in name but fail to deliver tangible outcomes. Instead of starting the year with fresh priorities after the holiday season, many employees are forced to contend with legacy work that has stalled but not been formally closed.
The impact on employees and teams is significant. Around 45 percent of Indian workers said zombie projects leave them feeling stressed or overwhelmed, while 40 percent reported a direct hit to productivity. At the team level, 40 percent of respondents said such projects contribute to missed deadlines, and 39 percent said they consume valuable resources that could otherwise be directed toward high-impact work.
Despite the clear downsides, zombie projects often linger due to cultural and structural barriers within organisations. According to the research, 43 percent of respondents said they fear negative perceptions if they suggest shutting down a project. Another 42 percent pointed to a lack of clarity over who has the authority to make decisions about retiring work, while 41 percent said the amount of time or money already invested makes it difficult to justify stopping a project.
The study also shows that teams are often reluctant to let go of initiatives perceived to have high business value. Nearly half of respondents said they would prefer to revive a stalled project rather than retire it, even if progress has halted, reinforcing how difficult it can be to decisively close low-value work.
Against this backdrop, Indian workers are increasingly looking to artificial intelligence to help bring structure and closure. The research found that 79 percent of Indian knowledge workers believe an AI teammate could help guide decisions on whether to revive or retire projects.
Respondents said AI could assist by summarising missed work, creating realistic time estimates based on calendars, and extracting action items from emails to speed up communication. Atlassian said this points to a broader role for AI — not just as a productivity accelerator, but as a decision-support tool that helps teams prioritise effectively and reduce clutter.
“The start of the year shouldn’t be haunted by the ghosts of past projects,” said Sven Peters, adding that organisations need to give teams clarity and cultural permission to stop work that no longer delivers value. He noted that AI is already being integrated into workflows to help teams assess which initiatives are worth reviving and which should be set aside.
The research also underscores the need to move beyond individual productivity gains toward AI-enabled teamwork. Atlassian said organisations that fail to improve collaboration, prioritisation and shared visibility risk falling short of AI’s full productivity potential.
To address the issue, the company recommends building connected knowledge systems that AI tools can reason over, establishing clear frameworks for prioritisation and project closure, and encouraging leaders to model AI adoption while fostering a culture where stopping low-value work is acceptable.
