The First Look
Two days, one written page, one straight answer on whether you actually have a problem.
Credited in full against Go / No-Go if you commission it within 30 days.
The problem it solves
Something is wrong and nobody can tell you whether it is architecture, data, process or politics — so nothing gets budgeted.
Who buys it: Any of the below, before they commit to a bigger number.
What lands
- One written page. Not a deck, not a workshop, not a discovery call with a follow-up.
- A named problem, or a written statement that there is not one worth paying to fix.
- A recommendation on which engagement — if any — is the right next step.
- A fixed price for that engagement, valid 30 days.
What this is not
- No code, no remediation, no implementation.
- No access to systems beyond what you volunteer.
- Not a substitute for the full audit — it tells you whether the audit is worth buying.
Who shouldn't buy it: Anyone who already knows what is broken. Skip this and buy Go / No-Go.
The guarantee
If the page tells you there is no problem worth paying to fix, that is a legitimate outcome and the engagement ends there. Roughly half of these should end that way.
Why me
The research workstream that produces this runs in hours, not weeks. That is why the price is what it is and why the answer is written down rather than delivered on a call.
Questions people actually ask
Why would you tell me not to buy anything?
Because the alternative is selling you a £32,000 audit of a problem that turns out to be an org chart. One of those outcomes ends the relationship permanently.
Is it really credited in full?
Yes, against Go / No-Go, within 30 days, most recent First Look only. It is a published term, not a negotiation.