OP Partners USA

What “due diligence” means here

This is a practical, plain-language framework for evaluating a potential partner or provider. It’s not a legal process — it’s a way to reduce surprises by validating key claims and documenting assumptions.

The 5-question framework

• 1) What is the claim? Write down exactly what is being promised.
• 2) What would prove it? Identify evidence (documents, demos, references, track record).
• 3) What could go wrong? List failure modes (delivery delays, quality issues, cost creep).
• 4) What would we do if it goes wrong? Define exits, mitigation, and fallbacks.
• 5) Who owns what? Clarify responsibilities, inputs, timelines, and escalation paths.

Practical validation steps

• Ask for references that match your situation (industry, size, scope).
• Request a written scope with deliverables and exclusions.
• Confirm security contacts if any data or accounts are involved.
• Test the support channel (how fast do you get a human response?).

Decision memo (one page)

Before committing, write a short memo:

• Context: what problem are we solving?
• Options: who did we compare?
• Trade-offs: what are we accepting?
• Risks & mitigations: top 3 risks and the plan
• Exit plan: how we unwind if needed

Red flags (quick list)

• Refusal to put key terms in writing
• Pressure to decide “today” without a clear reason
• Unclear ownership of data, access, or deliverables
• Promises that can’t be verified