We turn strategic needs into an actionable solution scope, a prioritised backlog, a roadmap and a release plan. Depending on the project's nature we determine a predictive, agile or hybrid management approach, and apply scope, time, resource, risk, quality and change-management techniques according to the chosen model.
We Turn Strategic Needs into an Actionable Solution and Delivery Plan
The business need, current state, future-state goals and business-case outputs clarified during strategic discovery are turned here into an actionable solution structure, a prioritised backlog and a manageable project plan.
At this stage the project's nature, level of uncertainty, scope clarity, stakeholder-involvement need, likelihood of change and delivery expectations are assessed to decide whether the project will be managed with a predictive, agile or hybrid approach. Planning, tracking, reporting, change management, risk management and delivery techniques are tailored to the chosen approach.
The goal is to clarify what will be built, in what priority it will proceed, in which phases it will be delivered, and within which scope, time, resource, quality and risk framework the project will be managed.
This stage acts as a bridge between strategy and execution. Business goals are turned into solution scope, solution scope into a backlog, and the backlog into a roadmap and release plan.
This Phase at Unitic
Scope becomes a work package → capability epic → actionable task hierarchy. Estimates go on actionable tasks, not work packages; agents' pre-estimates are reviewed by the team. A task without acceptance criteria is not considered ready for development.
The schedule is built on the reality of dependencies and capacity; a date counts as a commitment only when the work and the owner behind it are clear.
Techniques Used
- Requirements analysis
- Solution scope definition
- Project scope definition
- Delivery model assessment
- Predictive / agile / hybrid approach assessment
- MVP definition
- Backlog creation
- Epic / feature / user story breakdown
- User story mapping
- Use case analysis
- Acceptance criteria definition
- MoSCoW prioritisation
- Kano analysis
- Roadmap preparation
- Release planning
- Sprint planning approach
- Phase-based planning
- WBS / work breakdown structure
- Milestone planning
- Effort and capacity estimation
- Resource and role planning
- RACI matrix
- Risk analysis
- Dependency mapping
- Change impact analysis
- Communication plan
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- Quality and test strategy
- Preliminary architecture assessment
- Non-functional requirement analysis
How Is the Delivery Approach Determined?
A project's management approach is not assumed to be one-size-fits-all. Every project is assessed in terms of scope clarity, technical uncertainty, likelihood of change, customer involvement, regulatory need, integration intensity and delivery expectations.
This assessment determines the most suitable delivery model for the project.
Predictive Approach
Preferred for projects where scope is largely clear, the likelihood of change is low, and detailed planning is required by regulation or contract.
In this approach the scope, time, cost, quality, risk and communication plans are created in detail up front. Deliverables are tracked through phases and milestones.
Suitable Techniques
- Detailed requirements document
- WBS
- WBS dictionary
- Milestone plan
- Gantt plan
- Critical path analysis
- Requirements traceability matrix
- Change request management
- Phase-gate approvals
- Scope validation
- Risk register
- Status reports
Agile Approach
Preferred for projects where scope is open to change, user feedback is critical, and shaping the product or solution iteratively is valuable.
In this approach the product backlog, sprints, demo sessions and regular feedback loops come to the fore. Delivery proceeds through working software or usable increments.
Suitable Techniques
- Product backlog
- Epic / feature / user story
- User story mapping
- Sprint planning
- Backlog refinement
- Daily stand-up
- Sprint review
- Sprint retrospective
- Definition of Ready
- Definition of Done
- Acceptance criteria
- Velocity tracking
- Incremental release
- Demo and feedback loops
Hybrid Approach
Preferred for projects where some areas must be planned up front while others should be developed in an agile way. It is a frequently used approach, especially in enterprise technology projects.
For example, the overall scope, budget, schedule, architectural decisions and main milestones can be planned up front, while detailed functions, screens, user flows and development priorities are shaped within sprints.
Suitable Techniques
- High-level project plan
- Roadmap
- Milestone plan
- WBS
- Product backlog
- Release planning
- Sprint planning
- Phase-based checkpoints
- Change request and backlog management together
- Risk and dependency tracking
- Steering committee
- Sprint demo
- Status reports
- UAT and phase-closure approvals
Sample Deliverables
- Solution scope document
- Project scope document
- Out-of-scope areas
- MVP scope
- Delivery approach decision
- Product / project backlog
- Epic / feature / user story set
- User story map
- Use case list
- Acceptance criteria
- Functional requirements
- Non-functional requirements
- Requirements traceability matrix
- Roadmap
- Release plan
- Sprint or phase planning approach
- WBS / work breakdown structure
- Milestone plan
- Effort and capacity estimation
- Resource and role plan
- RACI matrix
- Risk and dependency list
- Communication and governance plan
- Stakeholder engagement plan
- Change management approach
- Quality and test strategy
- Technical solution approach
- Preliminary architecture assessment
