Planning Checklist
Five things to clarify before you build.
A good project starts with a shared understanding of the business process, not just a list of screens.
01
Business goal
Write the business outcome you want the system to support, such as faster booking, cleaner records, fewer manual reports, or better team visibility.
- What problem should the project solve?
- Which team or customer experience will improve?
- What result would make the project successful?
02
Current workflow
Document how the work is currently done from start to finish so the first version can match real operations instead of assumptions.
- Who starts the process?
- What forms, spreadsheets, or chats are used today?
- Where do delays or mistakes usually happen?
03
Users and access
List the people who will use the system and what each role should be allowed to view, create, approve, edit, or export.
- Who are the admins, staff, managers, and customers?
- What should each role see?
- Which actions need approval or audit history?
04
Data and reports
Identify the records, fields, documents, dashboards, and reports needed to support decisions after the system goes live.
- What records should be stored?
- What reports are needed weekly or monthly?
- Is there old data to import?
05
Launch scope
Separate the must-have first release from future improvements so the project can launch with focus and grow safely.
- What must be included in version one?
- What can wait until phase two?
- What support is needed after launch?