Configure project setup, capabilities and deadlines

Setup supplies the context used by vendor discovery, AI suggestions, forms, scoring and the business case. The project rail is the setup navigation: selecting a Define item opens the matching step through the step parameter in the URL.

Before you start

• You need write access to the project.

• For a replacement, renewal or cost-reduction project, identify the incumbent in the Software Register because that final setup step is required.

Step by step

1. Complete Foundation

Record why the project exists, sponsor, business owner, budget, target go-live and organisation context. The starting point influences the suggested evaluation approach.

2. Set the Project team

Confirm the internal workspace members who can administer and work on the project. The creator remains the owner; vendors and stakeholders are invited later through their own workflows.

3. Describe Software & problem

Choose the business and software area, state what is broken, capture problem themes and add enough concrete context to distinguish the need from a generic product search.

4. Write Success criteria

Add measurable outcomes and their evidence sources. Criteria should describe what must improve after rollout, because they feed the comparison, business case and Determine review.

5. Set Capabilities

Review the capability library and any suggestions, add what the solution must do and set importance deliberately. Suggestions are drafts and should be checked against the problem.

6. Complete RFP inputs and incumbent

Record expected user roles, training and support effort. When the origin represents replacement, renewal or cost reduction, link the current asset under What you are replacing.

7. Save dates and finish

Use Save & continue through the steps and Finish setup at the end. Open Project settings, then Dates, to maintain target go-live, contract renewal and the stage deadlines shown in the rail.

What happens next

• Review the evaluation approach seeded from the project origin.

• Begin Discover with stakeholder input and a vendor longlist.

Troubleshooting

Finish setup does not complete the wizard.

Open any setup item still marked incomplete. Replacement, renewal and cost-reduction origins require a linked incumbent; incomplete required context keeps the project in Setup.

Capability suggestions are empty or unsuitable.

Add a clearer process area, software category and problem statement, then retry suggestions where available. You can always search the library or add the correct capabilities manually.

A deadline does not appear in the rail.

Open Project settings and the Dates tab, confirm the date was saved and that the corresponding stage is enabled. Skipped stages do not present active due work.

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