The supplier says ready, but our team cannot use the output. What is missing?
Readiness definition mismatchAgree readiness in terms of what the receiving team can actually do. Delivery of a file or component may not include access, quality, documentation, or environment conditions needed for use.
What to do now
- Compare each side's definition of ready
- Test the receiving team's real use
- Identify missing conditions
- Agree and verify the completed handoff
When to escalate
Escalate when
The mismatch threatens a critical milestone or causes unsafe assumptions.
Who decides
The accountable integration or dependency owner
Example
A dataset is not ready until its format, access, and reconciliation checks support the receiving process.
Mistake to avoid
Treating sent as equivalent to usable.
Prevent a repeat
Verify dependency completion with the consuming team and test the integrated outcome early enough to act.
Suggested ApprovedFlow setup
- Tasks
- Documents
- Projects
Keep dependency owners, required evidence and dates with linked work records, confirming supported link behavior in the current build. See the platform
Related cases
- Another team says our dependency is not their priority. What should we do?Unagreed external dependency
- Our dependency dates keep changing. How do we protect the project?Volatile external readiness
- Our team has a different definition of ready for every item. Is that a problem?Inconsistent work preparation
- How do we know a technical project is ready for handover?Incomplete technical transition