The 14-Day Stabilization Period
Stabilization is the included 14-day period after acceptance used to correct delivery defects and settle the implemented system before paid maintenance begins.
Definition
Stabilization is the defined post-acceptance period in which the delivered system runs in production and implementation defects can be corrected before paid maintenance starts.
Why it matters to the business
It separates implementation quality from ongoing maintenance and gives the production workflow a defined observation period.
How it works
After acceptance, the system runs in production under the agreed scope. Delivery defects are corrected and operational behavior is observed before the maintenance billing stage starts.
Where it appears in real systems
A new integration may expose retry behavior, a lead workflow may reveal edge cases, or a report may encounter a source refresh issue during stabilization.
Common failure modes
- New scope is mislabeled as a stabilization defect.
- Acceptance is skipped and stabilization becomes open-ended testing.
- The maintenance start date is unclear.
Implementation considerations
- Record acceptance first.
- Define what counts as a delivery defect.
- Keep new functionality in change control.
When it is appropriate
Use stabilization after an accepted BYFORCE implementation before the package's paid maintenance term begins.
When it is not appropriate
Do not use stabilization to absorb material scope additions.
Relationship to BYFORCE
All five package structures use a 14-day stabilization period where the package proceeds to managed maintenance.
Source basis
- docs/commercial/BYFORCE_PACKAGE_BIBLE.md