Delivery Process

Fixed-scope discipline means predictable outcomes and clear accountability.

Scope Discipline

"If it isn't written, it isn't promised."

Every engagement begins with a written scope document that defines inputs, outputs, acceptance criteria, and constraints. This document becomes the single source of truth for what will be delivered.

This approach prevents misunderstandings and ensures both parties have the same expectations. If scope changes during delivery, we update the document and adjust timelines accordingly.

The Four-Step Process

  1. Scope Call (30 minutes)

    We discuss your goal, current state, constraints, and what "done" looks like. This is a discovery conversation to understand your environment, timeline, and success criteria.

    Output: Clear understanding of requirements and feasibility

  2. Written Scope + Milestones

    I provide a scope document that includes:

    • Detailed deliverables
    • Acceptance criteria for each milestone
    • Timeline and dependencies
    • What you need to provide (inputs)
    • Communication cadence
    • Payment terms

    Output: Approved scope document

  3. Delivery: Implementation + Validation

    Work proceeds according to milestones. Each milestone includes:

    • Implementation of specified functionality
    • Testing and validation
    • Documentation updates
    • Milestone review and approval

    Communication happens async-first (Slack, email, or your preferred channel) with scheduled check-ins as needed.

    Output: Working implementation that meets acceptance criteria

  4. Handoff: Documentation + Walkthrough

    Final delivery includes:

    • Complete documentation (architecture, runbooks, troubleshooting)
    • Code/configuration repository with clear structure
    • Walkthrough session to explain decisions and demonstrate usage
    • Knowledge transfer Q&A
    • Next-steps recommendations

    Output: Your team can maintain and extend the solution

Milestones and Acceptance Criteria

Each project is broken into milestones with specific acceptance criteria. Here's an example for a CI/CD pipeline project:

Milestone 1: Pipeline Foundation

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Pipeline triggers on every commit to main branch
  • Build step compiles code successfully
  • Unit tests run and report results
  • Artifacts are published to artifact store

Milestone 2: Quality Gates

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Linting checks pass before build
  • Security scanning runs and reports findings
  • Code coverage meets minimum threshold (80%)
  • Pipeline fails if any quality gate fails

Milestone 3: Deployment Automation

Acceptance Criteria:

  • Automated deployment to staging environment
  • Manual approval gate for production
  • Deployment includes health checks
  • Rollback procedure is documented and tested

Communication Cadence

I prefer async-first communication to maximize productive work time while keeping you informed:

  • Daily: Brief status updates via your preferred channel (Slack, Teams, email)
  • Per milestone: Review meeting to demonstrate progress and get approval
  • As needed: Unblock questions or clarifications (response within 4 business hours)
  • Ad-hoc: Scheduled calls when synchronous discussion is more efficient

You'll always know what's been completed, what's in progress, and what's coming next.

Handoff Checklist

Every engagement concludes with a comprehensive handoff. Here's what you'll receive:

  • Repository access: Code, configurations, and infrastructure definitions
  • Documentation: Architecture decisions, setup instructions, troubleshooting guide
  • Runbook: Step-by-step operational procedures
  • Change log: What was changed and why
  • Known issues: Any limitations or future improvements to consider
  • Walkthrough session: Live demonstration and Q&A
  • Support window: 30 days of questions via email (included)

Change Control

"New requirements become a new milestone."

Scope changes are normal in software projects. When new requirements emerge, we document them and evaluate impact:

  • Minor clarifications: Absorbed into current milestone (no impact)
  • Additional features: New milestone with separate acceptance criteria
  • Significant changes: May require re-scoping and timeline adjustment

All changes are documented and agreed upon before implementation. This protects both parties and ensures the project stays on track.

Ready to start?

Let's have a scope call and define your project.

Request a scope call