Know the universe before you rent a slice of it.

A requirement arrives in words and leaves as criteria. Gaps are measured and reported, not interpolated. Lineage survives the handover rather than being stripped at the door.

Retention position

Stating how long we keep what was built, and what happens to it afterwards.

Field standardisation

One definition per column, applied consistently, with original values retained beside the normalised ones.

Change-only refresh

On a repeat build, reporting what actually moved instead of re-delivering the whole file.

Put the deadline on the table early; it changes what is sensible.