This is Skagway Succession’s practitioner framework, not a validated industry standard or client research report. It is designed to structure an honest board and management conversation about what has been transferred, what is being practiced, and what still depends on the incumbent.
1. Surface
Identify the consequential decisions, relationships, cues, and exceptions concentrated in the incumbent.
2. Codify
Convert the most important decision logic into usable cases, maps, and context—not merely a handover binder.
3. Practice
Give the successor progressively more responsibility across role-relevant scenarios and decisions.
4. Prove
Review demonstrated reasoning, outcomes, calibration, and residual dependency before calling the transition complete.
Board briefing checklist
- Can we name the role’s few most consequential decisions and relationships?
- Has the incumbent’s decision logic been captured in real context?
- Has the successor practiced these decisions with progressively less support?
- What independent evidence supports readiness today?
- Which residual dependencies remain, and who owns them after the transition?
When to use it
Use this framework early in a founder, CEO, executive, or critical-operator transition. It does not substitute for legal, tax, executive search, compensation, or fiduciary advice.
Explore The PassageWhat took decades to learn
should not disappear in a day.
The road ahead should remember how the company came this far.