The first three stages are about understanding the item and making sure the right people are involved before any decisions are made.
Received
This is where every item starts. When you submit something, it lands here. At this point, the item is waiting to be picked up by someone who can move it forward. During this stage, the main thing happening is that a Pointman will be assigned: the person who'll coordinate this item through the process.
While an item is in Received, discussion is limited. The focus is on getting the right people assigned, not on debating the idea just yet.
Review
Once picked up, the item moves to Review. This is where the Pointman and any early contributors take a closer look at what's being proposed. They'll consider questions like:
- Is the proposal clear enough to work with?
- What would be involved in making this happen?
- Who else needs to be brought in?
- Are there any obvious issues or questions to address first?
The Pointman might reach out to the Originator for clarification, or start bringing in Contributors who have relevant knowledge.
Consultation
If the item needs broader input, it moves to Consultation. This is where we widen the conversation, gathering perspectives from teams, specialists, or members who'd be affected by or involved in the proposal.
During Consultation, the discussion section opens up properly. People can weigh in with their views, raise concerns, suggest modifications, or offer support. The Pointman keeps things on track and makes sure the conversation stays productive.
Not every item needs a long consultation period. Some are straightforward enough to move through quickly. Others might involve wider impact and need more time for input. The length depends on the item.
