Mutual action plan
Coordinate a real buying decision with shared milestones and observable exit criteria.
Use in a complex evaluation when both buyer and seller must coordinate evidence, approvals, and a decision date.
Before the working session
- Ask the buyer whether a shared plan would help their own decision. Confirm their desired outcome and target decision event.
- Identify required legal, security, technical, budget, and executive approvals without assuming the sequence.
Run the process
Start with the buyer decision
Write the decision to be made, who can make it, why the date matters, and what a “no” decision would look like.
Work backward from evidence
For each criterion, name the proof artifact, owner on each side, review meeting, and exit condition. Technical validation should answer a buyer question, not simply produce a demo.
Expose dependencies
Mark milestones that must happen before others, lead times, and missing stakeholders. Use dates confirmed by the buyer rather than seller forecast dates.
Review together
At each joint check-in, update completed proof, changed priorities, blockers, owners, and the decision date. Share the revised plan with all working owners.
Fictional example: A buyer wants a decision before a budget meeting. The plan puts a sample-data validation before security review, legal review after commercial scope, and a final sponsor meeting. The buyer owns sample approval and the sponsor meeting date.
Failure checks
- A seller-created checklist is not buyer commitment.
- Do not make procurement the final surprise milestone.
- Avoid sharing confidential buyer details in a reusable public worksheet.
Working worksheet
SHARED BUYING DECISION PLAN Buyer outcome / decision / decision owner / target date / reason: Decision criteria and evidence required: Milestone | artifact | exit condition | buyer owner | vendor owner | date: Technical validation question and result: Security / legal / procurement / budget sequence and lead times: Blocker | impact | action | owner | resolution date: Next joint review / changed date or scope / final decision: