How we build · Stage 02

Shape

Paid discovery that replaces assumptions with evidence.

Typical duration: 2–6 weeks
Portal phase: discovery
Stage: 02 of 08
CRM stages: 3

What this stage is for

Discovery is where the cost of a project is actually decided. We investigate the real users, the real systems and the real data, then produce a scope and architecture we are prepared to be held to.

Your part

Give us access to the people who know: users, operations, existing engineers, compliance. Attend the workshops.

Activities

What happens

Stakeholder and user interviews
Existing system, data and integration audit
Service blueprint and journey mapping
Architecture options with trade-offs and costs
Security, privacy and compliance screening, including DPIA triage
Release strategy: what belongs in an MVP and what deliberately does not
Estimation with explicit assumptions and ranges

Outputs

What you get

Discovery report with evidence and recommendations
Prioritised capability map across MVP, Release 1 and Later
Architecture decision records for the choices that matter
Risk, assumption and dependency register
Delivery plan, team shape and costed proposal

Exit criteria

We do not move on until

Written down so neither side has to rely on a feeling that things seem fine.

Scope for the first release is agreed and written down
Architecture direction is documented with recorded trade-offs
Commercial model, budget and timeline are signed off

Behind the scenes

How this shows up in our systems

This is not a diagram made for a website. The stage you are reading maps onto literal values in our CRM and the phase label in your client portal.

CRM pipeline stages: Discovery scheduledA paid discovery engagement is agreed and booked.Discovery activeDiscovery is running.Solution shapingTurning discovery findings into a scope, an architecture and a costed plan.
What you see in the portal: Your project shows the phase "discovery", with this stage's purpose and your part written on the project page.

Where it applies