Use this proposed exception table at each steering meeting.
| Warning sign | Recommended response |
|---|---|
| Sponsor wants a platform but cannot name the first outcome | Return to the charter before procurement |
| Every stakeholder request is mandatory | Resolve priorities and publish exclusions |
| Migration is described only as a CSV upload | Require evidence, history, relationship and reconciliation scope |
| Demonstrations use only administrator accounts | Repeat with contributor, reviewer, restricted and integration identities |
| A connector is shown without failure handling | Require an interface specification and recovery test |
| Administration is assumed to be negligible | Run the buyer-administrator task test and revise staffing |
| A mandatory feature is only on a roadmap | Treat it as unproven; change the contract, scope or shortlist |
| The quote lacks licence-action definitions | Obtain written clarification before TCO comparison |
| AI appears to save drafting time but increases review | Measure end-to-end effort and keep the feature optional |
| Exit evidence consists only of a report download | Test reconstruction of relationships, attachments and relevant history |