Scoping a TDD Engagement
How to define the right scope for your technical assessment
Proper scoping ensures your TDD engagement addresses the right questions within timeline and budget constraints.
Scoping Factors
1. Deal Characteristics
- Transaction size and type
- Strategic rationale (technology-centric?)
- Integration plans
- Timeline constraints
2. Target Characteristics
- Technology intensity of the business
- Size of technology organization
- Product complexity
- Regulatory environment
3. Buyer Priorities
- Key investment thesis elements
- Known concerns or questions
- Integration priorities
- Risk tolerance
Scope Options
Rapid Assessment (1-2 weeks)
- High-level architecture review
- Key risk identification
- Critical path items for closing
- Suitable for: Small deals, follow-on investments
Standard Assessment (3-4 weeks)
- Comprehensive technology review
- Detailed risk quantification
- Integration roadmap
- Suitable for: Most mid-market deals
Deep Dive Assessment (6-12 weeks)
- Exhaustive analysis across all domains
- Penetration testing and security audit
- Detailed integration planning
- Suitable for: Large, complex, technology-centric deals
Key Takeaway: Scope should match deal importance and timeline. Over-scoping wastes resources; under-scoping creates risk.