# Designing your project pipeline

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tl;dr - add your own *phases* under the proposed/won/active *states* to customise your *project pipeline*.
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## What is a project pipeline?

How do you talk about winning a project at your firm? Each firm is different, and tiny+ lets you design your project pipeline to match how your firm already thinks about proposed projects. 

Why configure your project pipeline? Well, it's the fundamental structure for your project-based business development activity in your firm. Once you get it right, you can generate powerful reports for each pipeline stage, and give your whole firm a shared language around the process of winning a project. 

## Understanding project states and phases

In tiny+ there are six umbrella *states* that a project will always exist in:

* **Proposed** - We have not yet been awarded the project.
* **Won** - We have been awarded this project. Work has not yet commenced.
* **Active** - The project is currently being delivered.
* **Completed** - The project is complete.
* **Lost** - We were not awarded the project.
* **Cancelled** - The project was cancelled or did not proceed.

These six *states* remain constant and cannot be changed, with the exception of the 'Won' state, which can be disabled in **Account Settings** -> **App Settings**.

Underneath these six *states* you can define any number of *phases* to suit your business development process and reporting requirements. Together, these *states* and *phases* define your *Project Pipeline*.

![An example Project Pipeline configuration.](https://1957838173-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LnoXYnzHXoSKmkXmIHw%2F-LoSxFbb7mqF-JtwEkY3%2F-LoT6pRsRvnRD16x9vzq%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=9fc5f10d-1565-4043-86d8-51fc31d67d7a)

## How to configure your Project Pipeline

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You must be an Account Admin to configure the Project Pipeline.
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To get started, navigate to **Account Settings** -> **Project Phases**.

From this page, you can create, edit, re-order and remove *phases*.

## Some example Project Pipeline configurations

Looking for inspiration? Here are some common project pipeline configurations which you may like to steal! 

#### Example #1 - Very simple

| Phase                 | Description                                                    |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Proposed - Lead       | A potential project starting at least three months from now.   |
| Proposed - Submission | A potential project which will start in the next three months. |
| Won                   | (no phases reqd)                                               |
| Active                | (no phases reqd)                                               |

#### Example #2 - More complex

| Phase                 | Description                                                    |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Proposed - Long Term  | A potential project starting at least three months from now.   |
| Proposed - Short Term | A potential project which will start in the next three months. |
| Proposed - Bidding    | We are currently preparing a Proposal for this project.        |
| Proposed - Submitted  | We have submitted our Proposal and are awaiting feedback.      |
| Won                   | (no phases reqd)                                               |
| Active - Delivering   | Currently delivering the project.                              |
| Active - On Hold      | On hold at client request.                                     |