In previous chapters, I have listed many potential barriers to a successful multi-application chip-card scheme, but also several ‘enablers’ – factors that will contribute to making a project successful.

This chapter is set out as a checklist; it sets these barriers and enablers against the phases of a project and should help those planning or implementing a multi-application project to make the right decisions at the right time.

Defining the project scope and road-map

For any project, clear definitions of scope and objectives are critical for success. In the case of a multi-application-card project, the business objectives must be clear and should drive the scope of the project. For the initiating organisation, its own business objectives must come first and should not be derailed by those of other partners.

There is a strong tendency for the scope of multi-application projects to grow during the life of the project: what is known as ‘function creep’. Whilst it is important to keep an eye open for changing circumstances, and some additional functions or markets may make good sense, any change to the original scope must be weighed against its effect on the business objectives and timescales.

Many multi-application projects will start with some basic features and add others as time goes on. It is very helpful to design a road-map that answers the questions:

• What do we have now?

• What will we add at each stage and how long will that take?

• What will we have at the end of this stage?