Briefing
Strategy → delivery: dependencies as risk, not just order
Model dependencies as risk relationships so sequencing reduces exposure instead of just following a timeline.
Strategy → Delivery 8 min
The mistake
Teams treat dependencies like scheduling constraints. The real value is understanding how dependencies concentrate risk and where learning should happen first.
A better dependency view
Classify dependencies by what they constrain.
- Knowledge dependencies: we can’t proceed until we learn something.
- Platform dependencies: we need capabilities built by another team.
- Coordination dependencies: success requires synchronized change.
Implications
When you treat dependencies as risk, sequencing becomes calmer: learn early, isolate big bets, and reduce cross-team coupling where possible.