The Overlooked Value of Pre-Project Discovery

Ask any experienced software consultant where most projects go wrong, and they’ll often tell you: right at the start.

Before a single line of code is written, the foundation is laid during pre-project discovery—a stage too many companies rush or ignore altogether. At Intertech, we’ve learned that skipping this phase is like building a house without a blueprint. The walls might go up, but don’t be surprised when they don’t line up.

What Is Pre-Project Discovery?

Pre-project discovery is the structured, upfront process where stakeholders, developers, and project managers come together to:

  • Define goals and outcomes
  • Clarify business problems
  • Assess technical environments
  • Identify constraints and risks
  • Align expectations

It’s part roadmap, part risk mitigation, and all about setting your project up for success.

Why It Matters

  1. Avoids Scope Creep
    When discovery is done right, everyone agrees on what success looks like—and just as importantly, what’s not in scope.
  2. Uncovers Hidden Complexity
    Discovery often reveals legacy system dependencies, security concerns, or workflow challenges that would otherwise pop up mid-project (i.e., at the worst possible time).
  3. Aligns Business & Technical Teams
    It creates a shared understanding between business leaders and developers, reducing the “translation errors” that derail progress later.
  4. Builds Trust Early
    A transparent discovery process builds confidence with stakeholders and gives them a chance to see how your team thinks and solves problems.

How We Do It at Intertech

We treat discovery like an essential part of the engagement—not an optional add-on. Here’s what we include:

  • Workshops with key stakeholders to align vision and goals
  • Technical deep dives into current architecture and systems
  • Risk and readiness assessments to avoid surprises
  • Project roadmap creation with realistic timeframes and resources

This phase pays for itself many times over by reducing rework, increasing clarity, and helping the real work move faster.

A Better Beginning Means a Better Ending

If your last project hit delays or missed the mark, look at how it started. And next time? Don’t just jump in.

Start smart. Start with discovery.

standardNovember 18Tom SalonekCloud Computing