Quality Gates in Project Management – Definition and Meaning
Quality Gates are predefined checkpoints or decision points within a project lifecycle or development process at which the quality of interim results or the project’s progress is evaluated based on established criteria. They are used to ensure compliance with quality standards and to formally validate whether the project is ready to move to the next phase, typically through formal reviews, tests, or approvals confirming the fulfillment of those criteria.
Example, best practice, and further information
In a software development project, a Quality Gate before the final release might require the successful completion of all system tests and a formal code review. A best practice is to define clear, measurable, and pre-agreed entry and exit criteria for each Quality Gate. This aligns with the quality management principles of the PMBOK Guide and the “Definition of Done” in agile methodologies, ensuring that only work meeting defined quality requirements progresses to the next phase.