4.4: Submission Checklist

🎯 Purpose of This Checklist

This checklist is your final quality assurance step before submitting your milestone. It ensures that all required components are complete, logically structured, execution-ready, and aligned with your prior planning commitments (especially from Milestone 2).

Use this to verify:

• Completeness across all five sections

• Consistency and traceability between your planning elements

• Professional formatting and clarity

• Readiness for stakeholder review or internal handoff

This is the final “ready-for-prime-time” check. Treat it as if your planning package is going into a real project kickoff meeting.

🧱 SECTION 1 – Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

✔	Criteria
☐	All Level 1–3 items are present and clearly structured
☐	WBS is numbered using a consistent hierarchy (e.g., 2.1.1)
☐	Task names are specific, action-oriented, and traceable to the approved scope
☐	The 100% Rule is followed: all project work is captured
☐	Formatting is clear, consistent, and organized for easy reference

🔗 SECTION 2 – Task Dependencies and Sequencing

✔	Criteria
☐	Each Level 3 task includes at least one dependency or logical relationship
☐	Finish-to-Start dependencies are used for sequential tasks
☐	Start-to-Start or Finish-to-Finish dependencies are used where appropriate
☐	External or risky dependencies are clearly noted
☐	The sequence is logical, actionable, and supports milestone progression

⏱️ SECTION 3 – Effort and Duration Estimation

✔	Criteria
☐	Every Level 3 task has a clear effort estimate (in hours)
☐	Duration estimates reflect real-world availability (calendar time)
☐	Estimation method (e.g., expert judgment, historical data, 3-point) is evident
☐	All major assumptions are documented in a Notes column or section
☐	The overall effort per phase or team member is reasonable and balanced

📍 SECTION 4 – Milestone Schedule

✔	Criteria
☐	3–5 milestones are clearly named and meaningfully spaced
☐	Each milestone includes a description, owner, target date, and dependencies
☐	Milestones reflect real decision points or deliverable completions—not task checkboxes
☐	Milestones are aligned with stakeholder availability and sequencing logic
☐	Schedule is formatted for quick reference and executive review

📊 SECTION 5 – Planning Readiness Review

✔	Criteria
☐	A clear summary statement evaluates the overall readiness of the plan
☐	Any open questions, missing inputs, or risks are documented
☐	The review confirms alignment between scope, structure, sequencing, effort, and milestones
☐	Plan quality is assessed from an execution perspective—not just a planning one
☐	Tone is confident, professional, and transparent about planning gaps

📁 OVERALL SUBMISSION QUALITY

✔	Criteria
☐	All five sections are complete, numbered, and submitted in the correct order
☐	Headings and subheadings are used for clear navigation
☐	Tone is professional, precise, and free from academic filler
☐	File format is correct (.docx or .pdf unless otherwise specified)
☐	File is named according to naming convention (e.g., Milestone3_TeamName.docx)
☐	Document is proofread and clean—no placeholders, errors, or formatting issues

🧠 Final Reflection Prompts (Optional, but Recommended)

Ask yourself:

• Could this plan be used by a delivery team without further explanation?

• Would a project sponsor feel confident approving this work?

• If this plan were presented at a stakeholder kickoff, would it hold up under scrutiny?