Explaining Variability

Phase One costs are variable because the work itself is genuinely variable. They are determined by a combination of factors, including but not limited to the following:

• Quality and completeness of existing source material.

  Well-structured, current, and coherent inputs materially reduce research, synthesis, and validation time. Fragmented, outdated, or contradictory inputs increase it.

• Scale and scope of the exam question.

  Narrow, well-bounded questions require fewer frameworks, fewer data sources, and lighter validation. Broad or multi-dimensional questions demand deeper research, more frameworks, and greater integration effort.

• Depth of research required.

  This includes desk research, comparative analysis, internal data interrogation, and external signal scanning. The depth required varies significantly by ambition, uncertainty, and risk profile.

• Number and seniority of stakeholders involved.

  More stakeholders, or more senior ones, increase interview time, synthesis complexity, alignment effort, and iteration cycles.

• Volume and complexity of interviews.

  This includes preparation, conduct, transcription or capture, analysis, and integration into the core logic of the work.

• Framework complexity.

  Some Phase One engagements require a small number of established frameworks. Others require bespoke frameworks, layered models, or multiple interlocking views, each adding design and integrity overhead.

• Decision criticality and time pressure.

  High-stakes or time-compressed decisions require accelerated work, parallel processing, and senior resource involvement.

• Degree of ambiguity or misalignment at the outset.

  Where there is low shared understanding, unresolved tension, or competing narratives, more effort is required to surface, structure, and resolve the real issues before progress is possible.

• Format and number of deliverables.

  Single working artefacts differ materially from multi-format outputs, board-ready versions, narrative layers, or alternative scenario views.

• Level of iteration and validation required.

  Some Phase One outputs stabilise quickly. Others require multiple cycles of testing, refinement, and recalibration with the leadership team.

• Integration with existing initiatives or future phases.

  Work designed to stand alone is simpler than work deliberately architected to feed cleanly into later phases or platforms.

• Use of enabling platforms or tools.

  Where platforms are used to preserve integrity, continuity, or reuse, there is upfront configuration and structuring effort.

In short, Phase One is not a fixed product. It is a structured response to a specific strategic condition. Costs reflect the real work required to reach clarity with integrity, not a predefined package.