# Implementation lifecycle & communication protocol

This document defines the end-to-end lifecycle for deploying Owkin solutions. It outlines the responsibilities, required documentation, and communication triggers from initial specification through to decommissioning.

### 1. Roles & Responsibilities

* Owkin Deployment Team: Responsible for infrastructure setup, software installation, and initial verification.
* Customer Point of Contact (POC): Responsible for providing access/permissions, coordinating internal validation, and signing off on deliverables.

### 2. The Lifecycle Workflow

#### Phase 1: Definition & Specification (Step 1)

Before technical work begins, the scope and methodology are formally agreed upon.

* Action: Owkin and Customer collaborate to define the deployment architecture (On-Premise vs. Hosted) and support tier.
* Documentation Generated:
* Deployment Specifications Document: Details hardware requirements, network flows, and security protocols.
* Support Service Definition: Defines SLAs, support hours, and incident reporting channels.
* Specific UAT Definition: Defines the acceptance criteria of the implementation
* Communication: Kick-off meeting and formal exchange of the Specification Document.

#### Phase 2: Contractualization (Step 2)

Both parties agree on the terms of the contract, including the scope and methodology

* Action: Owkin initiates a contract to sign with the customer, including the documents generated in the previous step in the appendix
* Documentation Generated:
* Contract: Details the mutual obligations of the two parties (i.e. scope, duration,  pricing)  
* Communication: Contract signed and sent to both parties

#### Phase 3: Readiness & Access (Step 3)

The Customer prepares the environment based on the methodology agreed in Phase 1.

* Scenario A (Customer IS): Customer provisions cloud capabilities and grants agreed IAM permissions to Owkin.
* Scenario B (Owkin IS): Customer provides necessary data feeds or integration credentials.
* Documentation Required:
* Access Credentials: (Transmitted via secure channel).
* Communication Trigger:
* Sender: Customer
* Message: "Readiness Confirmation: Permissions granted and environment ready."

#### Phase 4: Deployment Execution (Step 4)

Owkin takes control to execute the technical setup.

* Action: Owkin’s team provisions infrastructure (if applicable) and installs the software suite according to the Deployment Specifications Document.
* Documentation Generated:
* Installation Log: Internal record of configuration steps.
* Communication Trigger:
* Sender: Owkin
* Message: "Deployment Complete. The system is ready for validation."

#### Phase 5: Validation & Acceptance (Step 5)

This is the critical gate for moving to production.

* Action: The Customer performs User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to verify conformity.
* The Loop:
* If Conformity = Fail: Owkin iterates on the configuration. Deployment returns to Phase 3.
* If Conformity = Pass: The process moves to sign-off.
* Documentation Generated:
* Deployment Acceptance Certificate (DAC): A formal document signed by the Customer acknowledging the specification criteria have been met.
* Communication: Validation feedback calls; Submission of the signed DAC.

#### Phase 6: Support & Operations (Step 6)

Upon signing the DAC, the project transitions from "Build" to "Run."

* Action: Service runs according to the Support Service Definition agreed upon in Step 1 for the duration of the contract.
* Documentation Maintained:
* Incident Reports: Generated per ticket.
* Maintenance Logs: Records of updates/patches.
* Communication:
* Standard Support Channels (Ticketing System / Support Email).
* Quarterly Reviews (if applicable to cover business and service topics).

#### Phase 7: Decommissioning (Step 7)

At the contract end, data privacy and resource cleanup are prioritized.

* Action: Owkin initiates the takedown of deployed software and infrastructure.
* Documentation Generated:
* Decommissioning Report: Confirmation that all data has been wiped and access removed.
* Communication Trigger:
* Sender: Owkin
* Message: "Decommissioning complete. Contract formally concluded."

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