Agreement checklist

Problem statement and in/out-of-scope lists. Three to five measurable criteria. A named champion, economic buyer, and key users. Start and end dates with the compelling-event rationale. The commercial decision meeting and the intended shape of phase two.

Reference rights if the criteria are hit. A midpoint review date. An escalation path for scope requests. A data-handling summary.

Use kickoff to realign, and save negotiation for before signing. If the agreement is hollow, you will renegotiate while the clock burns.