Business Fit is not yet strong enough for approval. Outcome definition risk: the desired outcome exists but is still broad enough to invite competing interpretations.
Positive signals
- The business case is detailed enough to support a serious approval discussion.
- Commercial context is clear enough to anchor the fit discussion.
Risks to close
- Outcome definition risk: the desired outcome exists but is still broad enough to invite competing interpretations.
- Approval gate risk: no sponsor is named to confirm the project is worth funding and prioritizing.
Recommended actions
- Rewrite the desired outcome as a concise business result with a clear before-and-after state.
- Assign a sponsor who can approve scope tradeoffs and confirm the project remains worth doing.
Scope Clarity is not yet strong enough for approval. Scope narrative risk: the scope summary is too light to anchor a dependable baseline.
Risks to close
- Scope narrative risk: the scope summary is too light to anchor a dependable baseline.
- Requirement completeness risk: the project does not yet have a reviewable requirement set.
Recommended actions
- Rewrite the scope summary into a clearer baseline narrative before approval.
- Document the core requirements that define what must actually be delivered.
Resource Readiness is not yet strong enough for approval. Ownership risk: no sponsor is assigned to arbitrate readiness tradeoffs and approval decisions.
Risks to close
- Ownership risk: no sponsor is assigned to arbitrate readiness tradeoffs and approval decisions.
- Stakeholder coverage risk: stakeholder mapping has started, but it may still miss a critical reviewer or approver.
Recommended actions
- Assign a sponsor who can resolve tradeoffs and close readiness decisions promptly.
- Confirm the full review and approval stakeholder set so no essential voice is missing later.
Timeline Confidence is not yet strong enough for approval. Schedule definition risk: target start and launch dates are not both defined yet.
Positive signals
- The current scope volume does not obviously overwhelm the schedule at first pass.
Risks to close
- Schedule definition risk: target start and launch dates are not both defined yet.
- Dependency ambiguity risk: the intake does not yet explain why the proposed timeline should be believable.
Recommended actions
- Set both a target start and target launch date so timeline confidence can be reviewed on something concrete.
- Document milestones, dependencies, procurement lead times, and approval gates that shape the proposed schedule.
ROI Confidence is not yet strong enough for approval. Outcome measurement risk: an outcome is present, but it is still too broad to translate cleanly into realized value.
Positive signals
- The business rationale is detailed enough to support a value discussion.
Risks to close
- Outcome measurement risk: an outcome is present, but it is still too broad to translate cleanly into realized value.
- Measurement coverage risk: no success metrics are documented, so ROI remains largely speculative.
Recommended actions
- Refine the desired outcome into a measurable business result tied to timing or impact.
- Add measurable outcomes that define how value will be tracked after delivery.