Planning that makes the build predictable to follow
This is the fourth step of how we run a Magento project. Before development starts, we agree on the sprint cadence, the milestones, a fixed-price scope, and how you will see progress along the way. The plan is what keeps the build from drifting.
Turning the plan into a schedule
By now we know what we are building and roughly how it should work. This phase is where it becomes a schedule with dates, owners and a price you can sign off. We break the work into two-week sprints, set the milestones, and agree how scope changes get handled if they come up.
Most Magento builds that slip do so because this step was rushed or skipped. We treat it as a gate. Nothing moves into development until the plan is agreed, so you are not finding out about gaps halfway through the build.
What planning covers
Usually one to two weeks, led by a project manager with the tech lead. These are the pieces we put in place.
Sprint cadence
Two-week sprints with clear acceptance criteria, a demo at the end of each, regular retros and daily standups. We adjust the rhythm to suit how your team likes to work.
Fixed-price scope
A statement of work that spells out the deliverables, the timeline and the payment milestones. If scope changes, it goes through a written change order rather than quietly growing.
Boards and rituals
We set up the JIRA boards, schedule the ceremonies and onboard the team, so you can see what is being worked on and what comes next at any point.
A risk register
We write down what could go wrong, how likely it is, how we would handle it and who owns the response. We review it at every gate so problems surface early.
What you sign off at the end of Phase 4
You get a signed statement of work covering scope, deliverables, timelines and milestones; a sprint-by-sprint plan of what gets built when, with acceptance criteria; a configured JIRA board with epics, stories and sub-tasks that your team can see from day one; and a ranked list of the main risks with mitigation owners against each.
After this, the build is no longer a guess at a finish date. It is a schedule both sides have agreed to.
Common questions about this step
Fixed-price or time and materials?
Either. Fixed-price suits projects with a clear scope, which is most of them. Time and materials suits ongoing work through our dedicated developer model.
How long is each sprint?
Two weeks, with a demo at the end, regular retros and daily standups. We can adjust it, but two weeks tends to be the sweet spot.
What if scope changes mid-build?
It goes through a change order. We quote the change, you sign it, and it goes into the next sprint. Nothing gets added quietly; it is all tracked in JIRA and the statement of work.
Who runs project management on your side?
A dedicated project manager assigned to your build as the single point of contact. They run the standups, the demos and the board.
Want a plan you can rely on
Tell us about the build and we will set up a planning session. You will come away with a sprint roadmap and a scope you can sign off.