# Engagement phases, workstreams and Slack project channels

*Slack Consultant Study Guide · Delivery and Migration · Last updated October 21, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant/delivery-and-migration/engagement-phases-workstreams-and-slack-project-channels*

How a Slack services engagement is run: the five project phases and what the client does in each, the four workstreams and where migration sits, first-week governance and SOW review, delivering the project in a Slack Connect channel, and the platform versus enablement launch readiness check.

- Certification: Salesforce Slack Consultant
- Exam section: Delivery and Migration
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/slack-consultant

**Official exam objective:**

> Understand Slack delivery best practices.

## What the exam expects

- Place an activity in the right project phase (Prepare, Understand, Design, Launch, Transition) and say what the client does in that phase.
- Assign a deliverable, including migration work, to one of the four workstreams.
- Pick the first-week governance actions and explain why the SOW is reviewed with the client's core team before kickoff.
- Set up "Slack delivered in Slack": a Slack Connect project channel, an internal-only team channel, topic, description, pins and bookmarks, user groups and asynchronous check-ins.
- Separate platform readiness from enablement readiness when assessing a launch.

Key terms:
- **Phase:** a time-boxed stage of the engagement with its own activities and deliverables.
- **Workstream:** one of four parallel tracks (delivery, experience, platform, learning and enablement) with its own roles and deliverables.
- **Slack Connect channel:** a channel shared between organizations, each staying in its own Slack environment.
- **Launch readiness:** the pre-launch check split into platform readiness and enablement readiness.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Five phases | Prepare, Understand, Design, Launch, Transition | [Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan) |
| Client configures Slack | In the Design phase, after the setup is planned | [Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan) |
| Migration deliverables | Delivery workstream: overview, pre-migration planning, cleanup, execution | [Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan) |
| Week-one action items | Stakeholders, client constraints, shared document repository, hours vs budget | [Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan) |
| SOW review | With the core client team, before kickoff | [Design a Statement of Work](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/design-a-statement-of-work) |
| Partner configuration access | Never, unless the SOW states otherwise | [Assemble a Delivery Team](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/assemble-a-delivery-team) |
| Project channel timing | Slack Connect channel set up before kickoff; private if the client has security concerns | [Deliver Slack with Slack](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/deliver-slack-with-slack) |
| User groups and externals | Guests and Slack Connect people can't be added to your user groups | [User groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-a-user-group) |
| Enablement readiness | Support model, training, communications and awareness | [Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan) |

## Check yourself

- Why should the Slack Connect project channel exist before the kickoff meeting?
- When does the client configure Slack to match the agreed grid, channels and settings?
- Which workstream owns pre-migration cleanup?
- Why can't a Partner user group include the client's stakeholders?
- Which three areas make up enablement readiness?

## Sources

- [Developing a Comprehensive Slack Project Plan](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/launch-a-slack-project-plan)
- [Essential Strategies for Effective Project Delivery in Slack](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/deliver-slack-with-slack)
- [Build an Effective Delivery Team for Successful Projects](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/assemble-a-delivery-team)
- [Create Effective Statements of Work for Project Success](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/project-planning-for-slack-implementation/design-a-statement-of-work)
- [Use Slack Connect to work with other companies in channels](https://slack.com/help/articles/360035092414-Use-Slack-Connect-to-work-with-other-companies-in-channels)
- [What is a channel?](https://slack.com/help/articles/360017938993-What-is-a-channel)
- [Set a conversation topic or channel description](https://slack.com/help/articles/201654083-Set-a-channel-topic-or-description)
- [Add and manage tabs in channels and direct messages](https://slack.com/help/articles/32562841868307-Add-and-manage-tabs-in-channels-and-direct-messages)
- [Create and edit user groups](https://slack.com/help/articles/212906697-Create-a-user-group)
- [Guide to Slack Workflow Builder](https://slack.com/help/articles/360035692513-Guide-to-Slack-Workflow-Builder)
- [Automations: Schedule recurring messages in a channel](https://slack.com/help/articles/4412723137683-Set-up-a-daily-stand-up-in-a-channel)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 10 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Slack Consultant pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams