A Phase Gate is a formal review conducted at the end of a project phase to decide whether to proceed to the next phase, modify the current plan, or terminate the program or project. It acts as a control point that ensures alignment with business objectives, stakeholder expectations, and project feasibility before moving forward.
Phase gates are integral to stage-based project governance models and provide an opportunity for structured evaluation, validation, and authorization.
Key Characteristics
- Decision-Oriented – Results in a go, no-go, or revise decision
- Criteria-Based – Requires deliverables, performance metrics, and approvals
- Formalized – Part of the organization’s governance and methodology
- Used in All Project Types – Common in waterfall, hybrid, and gated-agile approaches
Example Scenarios
- A project completes the planning phase and enters a gate review to authorize execution
- After design, stakeholders review scope, budget, and technical feasibility before development
- At the end of deployment, a gate checks readiness before initiating operations and support
Mermaid Diagram: Gantt with Phase Gates
gantt title Project Lifecycle with Phase Gates dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD section Initiation Initiation Task :done, a1, 2025-01-01, 10d Phase Gate 1 :milestone, pg1, after a1, 0d section Planning Planning Tasks :done, a2, after pg1, 15d Phase Gate 2 :milestone, pg2, after a2, 0d section Execution Execution Tasks :active, a3, after pg2, 30d Phase Gate 3 :milestone, pg3, after a3, 0d section Closeout Final Tasks :a4, after pg3, 7d Final Review :milestone, pg4, after a4, 0d
Why Phase Gate Matters
- Strengthens Governance – Ensures each phase meets defined criteria before proceeding
- Reduces Risk – Prevents flawed work from moving forward unchecked
- Improves Stakeholder Confidence – Reinforces transparency and accountability
- Supports Better Decisions – Allows for reevaluation and reprioritization as needed
See also: Project Phase, Project Lifecycle, Stage-Gate Process, Governance, Milestone.