Complete before or during the intake conversation. Fields marked ▸ must be resolved before interviews begin. Use Section 11 to capture any inputs that could delay kickoff.
1Engagement Information
Client / Organization
Sprint Tier
Engagement Lead
Project Code / Ref.
Intake Date
Projected Kickoff
2Business Context
2.1 Organization Description
Briefly describe what the organization does, its size, and relevant structural context (e.g., health system, ambulatory group, payor, vendor).
2.2 Industry / Subsector
e.g., acute care, behavioral health, revenue cycle, supply chain, population health management
2.3 Key Business Pressures or Market Forces
Regulatory, financial, operational, or workforce dynamics shaping this engagement.
2.4 Strategic Priorities (Next 12–18 Months)
What are the organization's top stated priorities? How does this engagement connect to them?
3Problem Statement & Objectives
3.1 Primary Problem or Challenge ▸
As the sponsor articulates it. Use their language — not diagnostic framing yet.
3.2 Desired Outcomes from This Engagement ▸
What does the sponsor want to be true at the end that is not true today? Be specific — avoid "improve" without a direction or magnitude.
3.3 Why Is This a Priority Now?
What event, pressure, or decision has made this urgent? Deadline, trigger, or leadership mandate?
3.4 What Does Success Look Like at 90 Days? ▸
What will the client be able to do, decide, or act on that they cannot today?
4Prior Work & Context
4.1 Previous Initiatives
Prior assessments, projects, or improvement efforts — internal or external — that addressed this area.
4.2 What Has Been Tried? What Worked / What Did Not?
Relevant lessons, false starts, or partial solutions that frame the current problem.
4.3 Decisions Already Made
Constraints already set — technology, vendor contracts, org structure — that bound the solution space.
4.4 Existing Reports / Data to Review
Documents or data sets to request. Full data request is captured in Section 9.
5Stakeholders
List all individuals who should be interviewed or consulted, or whose decisions, access, or alignment this engagement depends on. Flag scheduling constraints in the Notes column.
Name
Role / Title
Level
Involvement Type
Availability / Notes
6Constraints
6.1 Timeline Constraints ▸
Hard deadlines — board meetings, budget cycles, regulatory milestones — that set the delivery window.
6.2 Budget Parameters
Is budget approved, pending, or embedded in a larger initiative? Note any approval authority or process.
6.3 Organizational Constraints
Active restructuring, leadership transitions, system implementations, or other initiatives affecting access or bandwidth.
6.4 Cultural / Change Readiness
Known sensitivities, prior change fatigue, or political dynamics that should shape how we engage.
6.5 Known Risks or Sensitivities ▸
Data privacy concerns, union considerations, legal reviews, executive tensions, or other factors to document before kickoff.
7Baseline Measures
Identify metrics or KPIs currently tracked that are relevant to this engagement. Note data gaps — they shape the evidence design.
Metric / KPI
Current Value
Source / System
Owner
Reporting Cadence
8Systems & Technology
List key systems, platforms, or tools central to or affected by the problem. Identify what data each holds and whether extraction / reporting access is available.
System / Platform
Purpose / Role
Owner / Admin
Data Accessible?
9Data & Document Access ▸
List all documents, data extracts, reports, or records needed for review. Confirm ownership and access path before kickoff. Flag anything requiring IT tickets, legal review, or executive approval.
Document / Data Set
Format
Owner
Access Method
Constraints / Notes
10Logistics
10.1 Proposed Kickoff Date & Format ▸
On-site, virtual, or hybrid? Who attends? Proposed duration?
10.2 Preferred Meeting Cadence
How frequently should status check-ins occur? Who should attend?
10.3 Primary Day-to-Day Contact ▸
Name, title, email, and phone. This person coordinates scheduling, data access, and internal communications.
10.4 Invoice & Billing Contact
Name, title, email, and preferred invoice format / submission method.
10.5 Document Sharing Method ▸
e.g., SharePoint, secure file transfer, email. Who manages folder access?
10.6 Communication Preferences
Preferred channels, response time expectations, and any communication restrictions.
10.7 NDA / Confidentiality Status
Executed, pending, or not yet discussed? Note any client-specific requirements.
11Pre-Kickoff Gaps & Flags ▸
Document any inputs that are missing or unresolved and that could delay kickoff or the first round of interviews. Every ▸ field not yet answered should appear here. Assign ownership and a resolution date before proceeding.
Gap / Missing Item
Impact on Kickoff
Action Required
Owner
Due Date
Sends a copy to geneva@garskeassociates.com and confirms receipt.
✓
Submitted — Geneva has been notified.
Your intake guide has been sent to geneva@garskeassociates.com. You'll hear back within one business day to schedule an initial conversation.
Completion Standard
This intake guide is complete when all ▸ fields are resolved, the stakeholder list is confirmed, data and document access is mapped, and no open item in Section 11 would prevent kickoff from beginning or the first interviews from being scheduled.