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Clarify - Scoping & Estimation (Internal)

Never client-facing. The unit each step is sized in, its S/M/L/XL bands, and the role mix - one section per step, in step order. Hours per step per tier are in the effort model; the tier model and prices in productisation.md. Bands and tiers are defined in depth.md.

1.1 Stakeholder Alignment & Context

Unit: Number of stakeholders / teams

Band Description
S 1–3 stakeholders (single team)
M 4–8 stakeholders (multiple teams)
L 9–15 stakeholders (complex org)
XL 15+ stakeholders / governance-heavy

Role mix:

  • Principal-heavy (sense-making, facilitation)
  • Mid supports documentation

1.2 Users & Audience Insight

Unit: Research depth

Band Description
S Canvases + analytics review only
M + user survey
L + user interviews (survey and interviews)
XL Multiple audiences / regions

Role mix:

  • Principal designs research
  • Mid executes and synthesises

1.3 Current-State Evaluation

Unit: Audit scope - strands × estate size (aligned with the tier files)

Band Description
S/M Focused: technical + accessibility/performance in full, light UX pass, content inventory-only
M/L Core: full multi-strand (UX, content, technical, a11y/perf)
L/XL Full: all five strands including brand, multiple properties

Role mix: by discipline - see the strand ownership table. A principal per discipline owns judgement; mids execute the checklists.

1.4 Market & Search Context

Unit: Market & search depth (aligned with the tier files)

Band Description
S Focused: three competitors at surface level; no standalone report
M Core: competitor review (three) taken deep + search review at standing/protect-list depth, with a written section
L Full: full set (up to five), full demand mapping feeding IA, AI visibility check
XL Multiple markets, regions, or languages

Role mix: split by discipline - strategy/brand owns the competitor review; engineering owns the search review. Principals own framing and conclusions; mids execute.

1.5 Synthesis & Direction

Effort model: fixed effort per project (not banded) - synthesis cost does not scale with project size the way research does. To confirm.