This is a planning sequence, not a promised enterprise implementation duration.
| Period | Sponsor decision | Evidence to complete |
|---|---|---|
| January | Retain, repair, expand or replace—and for which first workflow? | Scope charter; administrator capacity; migration sample; renewal and notice dates; baseline workload. |
| February | Which options remain credible after testing? | Common demonstrations; permission and integration tests; migration reconciliation; normalised three-year TCO; supplier clarification log. |
| March | Is the organisation ready to contract or proceed to the next delivery gate? | Agreed acceptance schedule; operating handover; production-readiness evidence; unresolved-risk approvals; fallback and exit arrangements. |
For a renewal, work backwards from the actual notice and procurement dates. Do not assume this calendar is available simply because the subscription expires later in the year.