Stage 5: Foundational Implementation Pre-Work and Training

Notice: applying this to your agency.

The IT Project Resources are not meant to replace your agency’s internal project management practices or prescribe how you must operate. Instead, they offer concepts and tools that can strengthen delivery by providing a scalable framework for project level coordination. All project documentation should be maintained throughout each stage in alignment with agency policies and, where applicable, WaTech requirements and oversight expectations.

 

Stage 5 confirms that all technical, operational, and organizational components are ready for a successful transition to production. During this stage, teams finalize training, validate system configurations, and ensure that governance, security, and support structures are fully prepared for go‑live.  Note: for systems with end customers outside the agency special efforts to contextualize how they will be included in planning and overall training approach. 

Key Activities:

  • Finalizing governance and oversight protocols.
  • Validating architecture and security posture.
  • Completing training and knowledge‑transfer plans.
  • Ensuring functional scope aligns with final configuration.
  • Preparing integration and data migration strategies.
  • Activating support structures and resource plans.
  • Establishing reporting and communication tools.

Teams must demonstrate that governance is active, training is complete, architecture and security standards are met, and integration and data strategies are ready for execution. Strong coordination between technical teams, project management, and agency partners is essential.

For Programs:

Programs must demonstrate enterprise‑level readiness, including:

  • Activated governance and oversight structures.
  • Finalized enterprise training plans and materials.
  • Validated system architecture and security readiness.
  • Confirmed integration, data migration, and support strategies.
  • Coordinated communication and reporting across all participating agencies.

For Programs with Agency Sub‑Projects:

Stage 5 ensures each agency sub‑project has:

  • Finalized governance and operational oversight aligned with enterprise models.
  • Validated architecture and security readiness against WaTech standards.
  • Developed agency‑specific training and knowledge‑transfer plans.
  • Confirmed functional scope and business requirements traceable to final configuration.
  • Contributed to enterprise integration and data readiness strategies.
  • Established resource plans and support structures for go‑live and stabilization.
  • Coordinated reporting and communication plans aligned with enterprise messaging.

Enterprise programs consolidate all agency inputs into a unified readiness framework that supports coordinated deployment and oversight review.

For Projects:

Projects must demonstrate that all technical, operational, and organizational components are ready for go‑live. This includes confirming that training, configuration, governance, and support structures are fully prepared for production use.

Projects must show that they have:

  • Finalized governance and operational oversight protocols.
  • Validated architecture and security readiness in alignment with WaTech standards.
  • Completed project‑specific training materials and knowledge‑transfer activities.
  • Confirmed functional scope and business requirements traceable to final configuration.
  • Validated integration points, data readiness, and any required migration activities.
  • Established support structures, help desk workflows, and escalation paths.
  • Finalized communication and impacted parties engagement plans.
  • Completed QA readiness assessments and confirmed testing outcomes meet implementation criteria.

These activities ensure the project is fully prepared for production transition and can demonstrate readiness to WaTech oversight partners.