Map more than technology
A useful dependency model connects business outcomes, authoritative information, services, interfaces, policies, approvals, people, contracts, operating capacity, and external obligations.
Public-safe modernization case study
Dependency Maps Prevent Surprise Delivery Failures
Modernization plans fail when critical approvals, data, integrations, controls, resources, and acceptance authorities remain invisible until delivery is already underway.
Expose the critical path
Each dependency should have an owner, required-by date, evidence of readiness, downstream consumers, escalation path, and consequence if it is late or incomplete.
Minimum dependency register
- Business decisions and acceptance authorities required before work can advance.
- Authoritative datasets, records, spatial layers, quality thresholds, and stewardship assignments.
- Interfaces, identity services, shared platforms, environments, and operational-support commitments.
- Security, privacy, records, accessibility, legal, architecture, and procurement review gates.
- Staffing, funding, contracts, facilities, licensing, and external approvals where applicable.
- Assumptions, sequencing constraints, status evidence, contingency actions, and review dates.
Govern the dependency chain
- Build the dependency register during current-state discovery.
- Link each item to requirements, milestones, decisions, controls, tests, and releases.
- Review high-impact dependencies at every governance gate.
- Prevent dependent work from being declared complete without evidence.
- Retire, replace, or escalate assumptions as facts become available.
Executive takeaway
A roadmap shows intended movement. A dependency map shows whether movement is possible. Governing both is what makes modernization executable.