The stage gate process
                     THE STAGE GATE 
PROCESS: A 
PROJECT 
MANAGEMENT 
GUIDE
WHAT IS STAGE 
GATE IN PROJECT 
MANAGEMENT?
Stage Gate, also known as Phase Gate, is 
a widely used project management 
methodology designed to guide a project 
from its inception to completion. 
If you’re familiar with the Waterfall 
methodology, Stage Gate is similar in that 
it’s also a linear process where one stage 
flows onto the next.
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 2
STAGE GATE 
PROCESS
The basic premise behind the Stage Gate 
process is that a project is broken up into 
various phases. We discuss each stage in 
further detail below. Each Stage (or 
phase) is bookended by a Gate – hence 
the name. 
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 3
KEY DECISION-
MAKING
The gate is a review and key decision-
making part of the project. It’s especially 
useful for large projects with multiple 
departments and stakeholders involved. 
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 4
REVIEW PROJECT 
PROGRESS
The gate is an opportunity for key 
stakeholders to review project progress, 
make decisions about the viability of the 
project and ultimately, decide whether or 
not to proceed to the next stage. 
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 5
PHASES OF THE 
STAGE GATE PROCESS
6
STAGE 0: IDEATION
The very first stage of any project is 
ideation. This is the brainstorming phase 
where key stakeholders get together to 
develop the initial ideas for the project. 
This stage can involve in-house as well as 
outside expertise and perspectives. 
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 7
STAGE 1: SCOPE
With the product or new business idea in 
mind, we now move on to the first stage 
of the project – Scoping – where teams 
will determine the project’s viability. 
Stakeholders will carry out a SWOT 
analysis to get a true picture of the 
strengths and weaknesses of the project.
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 8
STAGE 2: DESIGN
This stage builds upon Stage 1 by 
carrying out further research that leads to 
a Business Case. The Business Case will 
include a product and/or project 
definition, why it needs to be built as well 
as the proposed development plan.
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 9
STAGE 3: DEVELOP
This is where all major stakeholders and 
organisational departments get involved.
The actual design and development of the 
product begin here. 
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 10
STAGE 4: SCALE
With the prototype ready, this stage 
involves testing and trialing the product 
in the market. Often this involves testing 
the product in small control groups to get 
feedback. 
This is the quality assurance phase of the 
project.  This testing will help to iron out 
bugs, make edits and apply final touches.
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 11
STAGE 5: LAUNCH
This is where the product finally makes it 
to market. All bugs have been ironed out, 
everything has been tested and 
stakeholders have signed off for the 
product to see the light of day.
SOURCE: APRIKA.COM 12