The useful idea
Use an assessment to reduce meaningful uncertainty, not as an automatic entry fee.
Useful uncertainty
An assessment helps when dependencies, constraints or the actual cause of a problem are unclear. Its output should be a decision and a practical plan.
A real deliverable
Agree what will be reviewed, the questions it will answer and what you will receive. A report is only useful if it helps you choose the next step.
When to go straight to implementation
If the scope, access, risks and acceptance criteria are already clear, a separate assessment may add little value. We do not require one for every project.