What the review covers
The example engagement is a four-week review of the current employee onboarding journey.
Intended outcome: describe the current journey, identify observed friction points, and present prioritized findings for discussion with the engagement team.
In scope: mapping current onboarding steps from accepted offer through the first month; reviewing agreed process materials; and discussing observations with people identified for the review.
Not included by default: redesigning or configuring a separate client system, implementing recommendations, or evaluating unrelated employee services. A new request is a question to discuss, not an automatic change to the work.
Scope at a glance
Illustrative boundaries for this fictional review.
| Work area | Included | Not included by default |
|---|---|---|
| Current journey | Document onboarding steps and handoffs | Redesign a separate client system |
| Evidence | Review agreed materials and discuss observed steps | Claim findings beyond gathered evidence |
| Output | Present prioritized observations for discussion | Implement recommendations |
A boundary example
Keep observations tied to the agreed review; route adjacent requests to a discussion.
Included: document the current onboarding steps
A conversation reveals that a new starter waits for account access after an existing onboarding step. The team records where the handoff occurs, what evidence supports the observation, and which part of the current journey it affects.
- Tie the observation to the current process.
- Record missing evidence as a question, not a conclusion.
- Include the supported observation in the review findings.
Discuss separately: redesign a client system
A participant asks the team to redesign a separate client system. That request may merit discussion, but documenting the current onboarding journey does not include redesign by default.
- Capture what was requested and why it arose.
- Bring the boundary question to the engagement decision discussion.
- Do not promise added work before the appropriate discussion.
Continue with the related work
Use these pages when a boundary question affects delivery or direction.