In a Waterfall project, what does stage-gate governance typically entail?

In a Waterfall project, what does stage-gate governance typically entail?

• A. Continuous delivery with no gates.
• B. Sequential project phases with reviews at predefined gates.
• C. Random-phase approvals with no criteria.
• D. Upfront budgeting with no governance.

Answer: (B)

Stage-gate governance in a Waterfall project means dividing work into distinct phases (such as requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment) and requiring formal reviews at predefined points between those phases. At each gate, a cross-functional review evaluates whether the previous phase’s deliverables meet the defined exit criteria—covering scope, quality, risk, and alignment with schedule and budget. Only when a gate is approved does the project move on to the next phase, with any necessary adjustments to plans or funding. This creates controlled decision points to manage risk and ensure progress stays aligned with objectives. Options that describe continuous delivery with no gates don’t fit Waterfall’s emphasis on staged reviews; random-phase approvals with no criteria miss the need for predefined criteria at each gate; and upfront budgeting with no governance ignores the ongoing, formal control established by stage gates.

Stage-gate governance in a Waterfall project means dividing work into distinct phases (such as requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment) and requiring formal reviews at predefined points between those phases. At each gate, a cross-functional review evaluates whether the previous phase’s deliverables meet the defined exit criteria—covering scope, quality, risk, and alignment with schedule and budget. Only when a gate is approved does the project move on to the next phase, with any necessary adjustments to plans or funding. This creates controlled decision points to manage risk and ensure progress stays aligned with objectives.

Options that describe continuous delivery with no gates don’t fit Waterfall’s emphasis on staged reviews; random-phase approvals with no criteria miss the need for predefined criteria at each gate; and upfront budgeting with no governance ignores the ongoing, formal control established by stage gates.