tDS Project Brief
The one-page brief I use to scope every data engagement — purpose, deliverables, timelines, cost, and a RACI table. Copy it, fill it in, and align stakeholders before a line of SQL gets written.
Primary Outcome
A shared, agreed scope document that aligns stakeholders on deliverables, timelines, cost, and ownership before work begins.
Solution
A one-page brief that pins down purpose, deliverables, timeline, cost, and a RACI ownership table before work starts — and stays the reference point throughout.
Deliverables
A purpose section that states the business value of the project
A structured deliverables list (presentations, dashboards, data)
A timeline table with format, date range, work hours, and estimated cost
A RACI table mapping each deliverable to responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed parties
A notes section for resources and existing work
Strategic Context
Most data projects don't fail technically. They fail on alignment — unclear deliverables, fuzzy ownership, and a cost nobody agreed to. A brief forces those decisions to the front, where they're cheap to make, instead of the middle, where they're expensive.
Technical Architecture
Most data projects don't fail technically. They fail on alignment — unclear deliverables, fuzzy ownership, and a cost nobody agreed to. A brief forces those decisions to the front, where they're cheap to make, instead of the middle, where they're expensive.
Problem Statement
Data projects start without agreed scope, so deliverables drift, ownership is fuzzy, and cost balloons. By the time misalignment surfaces, it's expensive to fix.
Links
What's Included
A ready-to-copy Google Doc with an Overview (purpose, deliverables, timelines) and Notes (resources, existing work), including pre-built timeline and RACI tables you fill in.
FAQs
Is this only for consultants?
No. Internal data leaders use it to scope projects with stakeholders just as much as consultants use it with clients.
Can I change the deliverable types?
Yes — the timeline and RACI tables are templates. Swap in whatever your project actually produces.
Tech Stack
Tool 1
Tool 4
Tool 4
Tool 3
Tool 2
Tool 4
Primary Outcome
A shared, agreed scope document that aligns stakeholders on deliverables, timelines, cost, and ownership before work begins.
Problem Statement
Data projects start without agreed scope, so deliverables drift, ownership is fuzzy, and cost balloons. By the time misalignment surfaces, it's expensive to fix.
Solution
A one-page brief that pins down purpose, deliverables, timeline, cost, and a RACI ownership table before work starts — and stays the reference point throughout.
Links
Deliverables
A purpose section that states the business value of the project
A structured deliverables list (presentations, dashboards, data)
A timeline table with format, date range, work hours, and estimated cost
A RACI table mapping each deliverable to responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed parties
A notes section for resources and existing work
What's Included
A ready-to-copy Google Doc with an Overview (purpose, deliverables, timelines) and Notes (resources, existing work), including pre-built timeline and RACI tables you fill in.
Strategic Context
Most data projects don't fail technically. They fail on alignment — unclear deliverables, fuzzy ownership, and a cost nobody agreed to. A brief forces those decisions to the front, where they're cheap to make, instead of the middle, where they're expensive.
FAQs
Is this only for consultants?
No. Internal data leaders use it to scope projects with stakeholders just as much as consultants use it with clients.
Can I change the deliverable types?
Yes — the timeline and RACI tables are templates. Swap in whatever your project actually produces.
Technical Architecture
Most data projects don't fail technically. They fail on alignment — unclear deliverables, fuzzy ownership, and a cost nobody agreed to. A brief forces those decisions to the front, where they're cheap to make, instead of the middle, where they're expensive.
Tech Stack
Tool 1
Tool 4
Tool 4
Tool 3
Tool 2
Tool 4