SPARK-SIS Project Evolution Framework
The 8-Phase Journey from Idea to Archive
A systematic approach to project evolution that ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
Phase Definitions
1. INBOX - Capture Everything
Purpose: Never lose an idea or request
Key Actions:
- Capture without judgment
- Add basic metadata
- Assign initial priority
- No analysis yet
Exit Criteria: Weekly triage session
2. BACKLOG - Prioritize Ruthlessly
Purpose: Order by value and effort
Key Actions:
- Score value (1-10)
- Estimate effort (XS/S/M/L/XL)
- Map dependencies
- Calculate ROI
Exit Criteria: ROI score > threshold
3. SPEC - Define Precisely
Purpose: Remove all ambiguity
Key Deliverables:
- User stories
- Technical requirements
- UI/UX designs
- Test scenarios
- Success metrics
Exit Criteria: Stakeholder sign-off
4. PSEUDO - Design Solution
Purpose: Plan before building
Key Activities:
- Algorithm design
- System architecture
- Database schema
- API design
- Security planning
Exit Criteria: Technical review passed
5. ARCH - Build Foundation
Purpose: Implement core functionality
Development Standards:
- Test-driven development
- 80% code coverage
- Peer code reviews
- Documentation as you go
Exit Criteria: All tests passing
6. REFINE - Polish to Perfection
Purpose: Optimize and enhance
Enhancement Areas:
- Performance tuning
- UX improvements
- Error recovery
- Monitoring setup
- Documentation
Exit Criteria: Production ready
7. COMPLETE - Ship It
Purpose: Deploy with confidence
Launch Checklist:
- Feature flags configured
- Rollback plan ready
- Support team briefed
- Monitoring active
- Announcement prepared
Exit Criteria: Successful production deployment
8. ARCHIVE - Learn & Improve
Purpose: Capture lessons learned
Documentation:
- Performance metrics
- User feedback
- Technical decisions
- Process improvements
- Reusable components
Exit Criteria: Knowledge transferred
WIP Limits
Preventing Overload
| Phase | WIP Limit | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| INBOX | Unlimited | Capture everything |
| BACKLOG | 50 items | Focus on priority |
| SPEC | 5 items | Quality over quantity |
| PSEUDO | 3 items | Deep thinking required |
| ARCH | 3 items | Focused development |
| REFINE | 5 items | Polish in parallel |
| COMPLETE | 2 items | Careful deployment |
| ARCHIVE | Unlimited | Continuous learning |
Velocity Tracking
Sprint Metrics
Cycle Time
| Phase Transition | Target | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| INBOX → BACKLOG | 7 days | 5 days |
| BACKLOG → SPEC | 14 days | 12 days |
| SPEC → PSEUDO | 3 days | 2 days |
| PSEUDO → ARCH | 1 day | 1 day |
| ARCH → REFINE | 5 days | 6 days |
| REFINE → COMPLETE | 2 days | 2 days |
| COMPLETE → ARCHIVE | 7 days | 5 days |
| Total Cycle | 39 days | 33 days |
Integration with Tools
Notion Sync
- Automatic project creation
- Status synchronization
- Team collaboration
- Document management
GitHub Integration
- Issue tracking
- Pull request linking
- Automated workflows
- Release management
Slack Notifications
- Phase transitions
- Blockers alerts
- Daily summaries
- Sprint reports
Best Practices
Do's
- ✅ Move cards daily
- ✅ Respect WIP limits
- ✅ Document decisions
- ✅ Celebrate completions
- ✅ Learn from archives
Don'ts
- ❌ Skip phases
- ❌ Exceed WIP limits
- ❌ Rush specifications
- ❌ Deploy without tests
- ❌ Forget retrospectives
Success Patterns
Fast Track
For urgent fixes: INBOX → SPEC → ARCH → COMPLETE
Innovation Path
For new features: Full 8-phase journey
Experiment Loop
For prototypes: INBOX → PSEUDO → ARCH → ARCHIVE
Common Pitfalls
| Pitfall | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Spec creep | Delays | Lock specs early |
| WIP overflow | Context switching | Enforce limits |
| Skipping REFINE | Tech debt | Mandatory phase |
| Poor archiving | Lost knowledge | Templates required |
Metrics & KPIs
Health Indicators
- Flow Efficiency: >70%
- Cycle Time Variance: <20%
- WIP Adherence: >90%
- Archive Rate: 100%
Quality Metrics
- Defect Escape Rate: <5%
- Test Coverage: >80%
- Documentation Score: >8/10
- Retrospective Actions: >3 per sprint
Templates & Resources
Available Templates
- Spec document template
- Pseudocode guidelines
- Architecture decision records
- Retrospective format
Training Materials
- Video walkthroughs
- Best practice guides
- Case studies
- Office hours schedule
Next: Z7 Consciousness Framework (Coming Soon)