The Stage Gate process: A powerful method used for efficient project management
Developed by DTU student, Lillian Nygaard
Contents |
Abstract
When it comes to achieving a successful project – The main foundation is efficient project management. A simple method to secure this is by executing projects through a Stage-Gate process. The Stage-Gate process is method that guides a project from discovery to launch in an organized and efficient manner. It involves breaking down the project into stages which are separated by gates. The gates are used to decide whether or not the project should proceed into the following stages. The Stage Gate process was developed by Dr. Robert G. Cooper and presented in the book 'Winning At New Products' in 1986 [1]. Dr. Robert G. Cooper’s developed process is implemented by more than 80% of the companies in North America and the implementation of the process worldwide is growing as companies are pursuing to develop their innovation competences. [2] The Stage Gate process include five stages that the project is proceeding through – 1. Preliminary Assesment 2. Business Case Preparation 3. Development 4. Testing & Validation and 5. Full Production & Market Launch. [3] Each stage is created to acquire information for the purpose of the project to proceed into the next stage. The five stages are characterized by specific activities that must be accomplished within each stage. To expedite the project’s progression towards the next stage, the activities are completed in parallel in the different departments within each stage. These activities are intended to acquire knowledge about the project while increasingly reducing ambiguity and risk. The outcome of the activities becomes the foundation for the so called ‘’gatekeepers’’ to decide whether to maintain investment or to kill the project. The main advantage of implementing the Stage Gate process is increased efficiency in new product development. The process is making it possible for companies to evaluate their project through the stages and efficiently manage their resources and minimizing potential risks. The result of this is that the companies will manage to produce superior products with reduced mistakes. The purpose of this wiki article is to demonstrate how the Stage Gate process can be used as a powerful method for efficient project management. Furthermore, the stages and gates will be described.
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