If a project is small and some of the strategic specification is required to be done, then things like research, scope definition, styleguide creation, establishing milestones and scoping per version should be done in the first phase of the project. After the estimation and evaliation and research has been done After the requirements have been gathered and prioritised, then a project scope document can be presented. And when the document is ready, they can either go forward with implementation with you or with anybody else. The issue, which might happen here is that I am used to being treated as a resource and not having input into the more strategic aspects of the business.