> think of and also communicate the research phase as stage of the project itself with a report at the end as a deliverable Yes. This is the classic funded fea

> think of and also communicate the research phase as stage of the project itself with a report at the end as a deliverable Yes. This is the classic funded feasibility study / scoping study phase. The report deliverable can include a price estimate and also a risk estimate, e.g. expressed as the cost of additional rework, especially where there is a residual uncertainty (e.g. the use of a new component / framework, etc) at the end of the initial study. How companies manage their risk 'pots' is extremely telling. In some situations there can be additional breakpoints, sometimes contractually, if third parties / subcontractors are involved.