Why
Planned decommissions that aren’t reflected in the forecast cause forecast inflation and ghost budgets. Savings targets appear unmet when the baseline is never adjusted for shutdowns. Adding a decommission date field to the demand intake template is trivial but prevents material forecast errors.
What
Add planned decommission timelines to the demand capture process so that spend reductions adjust the projected run rate.
How
Add Decommission Fields to Intake Template
Add to the existing demand intake template:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Workload to Decommission | Legacy DC payment gateway |
| Expected End Date | 2026-06-30 |
| Current Monthly Cost | $15,000 |
| Confidence | High (migration plan signed) |
Include in Planning Summary
Add a “Planned Reductions” section alongside planned additions. The net of additions and reductions gives the true projected run rate change.
Deliverable Checklist
- Decommission fields added to intake template
- Planned reductions captured alongside additions
- Net impact reflected in planning summary