Name who decides
Identify the product owner, technical reviewer, and person who approves the release. Agree how to resolve questions that block work and where decisions are recorded. A shared task list only helps if someone has the authority to set its priorities.
Keep each milestone small enough to check
A milestone should name the user journey, integrations, supported devices, and acceptance examples. Include the behavior when an API fails or access is denied. Separate a committed deliverable from an assumption that still needs verification.
Agree on shared working hours
Specify the time zone, days, and meeting time, including daylight-saving changes. Agree written progress updates and a weekly demonstration. One shared meeting a day is not the same as being on call all day.
Keep code and access under your control
Use client-approved repositories and accounts, least-privilege access, and pull-request review. Agree confidentiality, intellectual property, approved subcontracting if any, and offboarding. Credentials should be shared through the approved secret-management process.
Include the handover in “done”
Ask for setup instructions, configuration requirements without secrets, test commands, release notes, known limitations, and deployment and rollback steps. Assign the next support owner and define what happens after the milestone ends.
Further reading
Sources checked on 16 October 2026. This is planning advice, not results from a client project.