What phase-gate means, in about a minute.

Phase-gate is an old idea with a simple core: break the work into phases, and put a decision between each one.

  1. 1 of 5

    Work happens in phases.

    A project is a short run of phases, each with its own tasks. Templates give you a sensible set to start from.

    1. Concept
    2. Prototype
    3. Build
    4. Validate
    5. Launch
  2. 2 of 5

    Each phase ends at a gate.

    A gate is a checkpoint with criteria. The phase can’t close until they’re settled.

    1. Concept
    2. Prototype
    3. Build
    4. Validate
    5. Launch
  3. 3 of 5

    Evidence, not opinions.

    Each criterion is met, failed or waived with a note, so the gatekeeper sees exactly where things stand.

    1. Concept
    2. Prototype
    3. Build
    4. Validate
    5. Launch
  4. 4 of 5

    Then a verdict.

    Go opens the next phase. Kill stops the project and records why. Recycle sends chosen work round again.

    1. Concept
    2. Prototype
    3. Build
    4. Validate
    5. Launch
  5. 5 of 5

    And round again.

    Good projects speed up and weak ones stop early. Your process gets sharper each time.

    1. Concept
    2. Prototype
    3. Build
    4. Validate
    5. Launch

What we believe.

  • One way to run a project.

    Phases end at gates, and gates end in decisions. You spend your time on the work rather than on setting up the tool.

  • Gates are for deciding.

    Bring the evidence, choose Go, Kill or Recycle, and write down why.

  • Stopping early counts as a win.

    The cheapest project is the one you stopped before it cost you.

  • Dates come from the work.

    The forecast is worked out from estimates and dependencies, so nobody has to guess.

  • People make the call.

    AI can draft a brief or an update. It never decides Go or Kill.

Glossary

The terms cadence. uses, in plain words.

Gate
The checkpoint at the end of a phase. It holds the criteria someone has to settle before the phase can close.
Criterion
One condition a gate checks. It can be met, failed or waived, and a failure or waiver needs a note.
Go
The decision to open the next phase. It’s blocked while any criterion is still pending.
Kill
The decision to stop the project. It needs a reason, cancels the open tasks and closes the project.
Recycle
The decision to run the phase again. You choose which criteria to reset and which tasks to reopen.
Conditional Go
A Go recorded while at least one criterion failed. The failure stays on the record.
Forecast launch
The launch date the remaining work points to, recalculated whenever something changes.
Target launch
The date you’re aiming for. The forecast is compared with it to set the project’s health.
Waits on
A dependency. A task that waits on another can’t start until that one finishes.
Critical path
The chain of tasks that sets the forecast date. Anything off it has slack.
Working days
Monday to Friday. Estimates and forecasts use them, so weekends don’t count.
Portfolio
A tag that groups related projects, such as a range, with its own forecast and timeline.

Find your team’s cadence.

Start from a template and have a forecast for your first project by the end of the day.

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