Section 3.2: Work Packages & Milestones

In ABRAM, project scopes are organized using a strict hierarchical blueprint. Work Packages serve as structural phases of a project, which house actionable Deliverables, Work Orders, and Payment Milestones.

1. What is a Work Package?

A Work Package is a container that groups related tasks, crew schedules, and deliverables for a specific phase of a project.

Core Properties

• Package Name: e.g., "Pre-Production & Development".
• Package Type: Categorized as Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, or Coordination.
• Primary Disciplines: Roster of required creative disciplines (e.g., Cinematography, Editing).
• Budget Allocated: The portion of the project budget assigned to this package (e.g., $12,500).
• Sequence Order: The order of progression (e.g., Sequence 1, Sequence 2).

The Status Lifecycle

Work packages progress through a defined lifecycle to help you track progress:

• Planning: Initial state when the package is created.
• Matching: Roster search is active, and the system is scanning matching criteria.
• Staffed: Freelancers are successfully booked and invitations are accepted.
• In Progress: Work is active (triggered automatically when the start date arrives).
• Completed: Deliverables are signed off and milestones are locked.
• Cancelled: Work has stopped, releasing any booked crew or resources.

2. Defining Milestones (Payment Milestones)

A Milestone represents a major checkpoint or event in the project timeline (e.g., "Script Lock", "Rough Cut Approval", "Final Handover").

Properties

• Title & Description: Detailed criteria for milestone achievement.
• Target Date: Due date for the checkpoint.
• Status: Tracks milestone progression: Not Started, In Progress, In Review, Completed, or Blocked.
• Assignee: The team lead or freelancer responsible for the milestone.

Milestone Payments (Escrow & Release)

If a milestone is tied to a billing trigger, you can set a Payment Percentage:

• Budget Allocation: Allocate a percentage of the total project budget to be paid upon completion (e.g., 20% on "Rough Cut Approval").
• Completion Payout: When the milestone status is updated to Completed, the system marks the corresponding portion of the budget as unlocked for invoice generation.

3. Defining Deliverables

A Deliverable is a specific creative asset or output that must be produced within a Work Package.

Properties

• Deliverable Type:
  • File: Physical file uploads (e.g., MP4 export, RAW design package).
  • Link: URL links to shared workspaces (e.g., Figma board, Frame.io review link).
  • Milestone: A calendar delivery checkpoint.
• Priority: Urgency level (Low, Normal, High, or Critical).
• Estimated Hours: The planned number of hours required to complete the asset.
• Revision Rounds: The number of included producer edit cycles (e.g., 2 revision rounds included).
• Role Allocations: The specific crew roles assigned to work on the asset.
• Status: Tracks progression: Not Started, In Progress, In Review, Completed, or Blocked.