Why per engagement?
A profile or client record does not show what was agreed, changed or reported for engagement X on Tuesday. That is why PSM works per engagement, especially when practice changes during execution.
Planning
A planning system usually knows who works when.
In practice
Most friction starts when briefing, changes and signals run across multiple channels. One shared dossier keeps office and field on the same page.
PSM
PSM records per engagement what was agreed, changed, confirmed and reported, so visibility does not disappear into scattered channels.
The four core questions
Per engagement, you record what teams otherwise solve ad hoc: mandate, direction, replacement and responsibility.
Who gives operational instructions during the engagement?
Who decides at a deviation or stop?
Are substitutions allowed, and under what conditions?
Who bears responsibility in an incident?
What this gives you
Less interpretation during execution, less reconstruction work afterwards and a dossier that remains transferable for clients, finance or internal review.
What PSM does not claim
PSM supports careful recording. Responsibility for rules, agreements and sector-specific obligations remains with the involved parties.
Comparison with planning and VMS
Need a faster explanation for prospects or internal stakeholders? See the comparison page.