Group

The Stages

Every item on the Roadmap follows a path through a series of stages. These stages give structure to the process. They make sure ideas don't just get submitted and forgotten, and that the right conversations happen at the right time.

The six stages are:

1. Received - The item has been submitted and is waiting to be picked up.
2. Review - The item is being looked at to understand what's being proposed and what it would involve.
3. Consultation - Input is being gathered from the people and teams who'd be affected or who have relevant expertise.
4. Decision - The Authority decides whether to approve, reject, or adjust the item.
5. Execution - The item has been approved and work is underway.
6. Concluded - The item is done, whether it was completed, rejected, or closed for another reason.

Not every item goes through every stage. Some types are configured to skip stages that don't apply. A straightforward technical fix might skip Consultation entirely, for instance. The stages an item passes through depend on its type and how J11 has configured it.

Tracking progress

On each item's page, you can see exactly which stage it's in, how long it's been there, and the full history of when it moved between stages. If target dates have been set, you can also see whether the item is on track or overdue.

Items move between stages when the people responsible (typically the Pointman or Authority) decide it's ready. Stage changes are logged and visible to everyone.

Above: The Stage Timeline on the item view shows the progression of the item.

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.

The final three stages are where decisions get made and work gets done.

Decision

This is the stage where the Authority, the person with final sign-off, reviews everything that's been gathered and makes a call. They'll look at the proposal, the discussion, any consultation input, and the Pointman's assessment.

The Authority can:

• Approve the item, giving the go-ahead to proceed.
• Reject the item, with a reason explaining why.
• Send it back for more consultation or review if there are unresolved questions.

The approval decision is recorded and visible on the item, including who approved or rejected, when they did it, and any comments they included.

Execution

Once approved, the item moves to Execution. This is where the actual work happens. The Pointman coordinates the effort, Contributors pitch in where they're needed, and progress is tracked through updates posted on the item.

Work will start as soon as capacity allows. We're all volunteers here, so the Pointman keeps the item moving and posts updates so everyone can see how things are going.

Concluded

When the work is complete, or if the item was rejected or closed for another reason, it moves to Concluded. This is the final stage. The item stays on the Roadmap as a permanent record of what was proposed, what was decided, and what happened.

Concluded items can still be viewed and searched. They're a useful reference for understanding past decisions and avoiding duplicating work that's already been done or considered.