Pilot Proposal: Defining Success Before We Start

Context: Business English for IT consulting, solution architecture, and product leadership.

Rather than asking you to approve a large transformation program, I recommend starting with a six-week pilot. The purpose is to test our assumptions, demonstrate measurable improvements, and decide whether a broader investment is justified.

We would select one workflow that currently causes repeated delays, such as regression testing for the payments module. During the first week, we would document the existing process and establish baseline metrics. These might include lead time, test execution time, deployment frequency, and the number of defects escaping into production.

Our team would carry out most of the implementation work. We would ask your engineering manager to join a short kickoff and a weekly review, so the pilot does not become another burden on an already stretched team.

At the end of six weeks, we would compare the results against agreed targets. If the pilot delivers meaningful benefits without creating unacceptable operational risk, we can propose the next phase. If it does not, we will explain what we learned and recommend whether to change direction.

This gives your leadership team evidence to make a decision, rather than asking them to rely on optimistic promises.

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