Quality gate
Encyclopedia
A Quality Gate is a special milestone
in a software project
. Quality Gates are located before a phase that is strongly dependent on the outcome of a previous phase. They are especially useful between phases in which breaches in disciplines must be overcome. Such a breach typically occurs, for example, when embedded software must be transferred to a hardware chip. Quality Gates are more general than Milestones; Quality Gates can be used in larger set of more or less similar projects, whereas milestones must be defined for each project
from scratch.
Each Quality Gate includes a check of documents relevant to the previous phase. Unlike a software review, this check is only formal; no deep check on the contents of applicable documents is conducted in a Quality Gate. A Quality Gate demands a set of documents and includes special requirements on these documents, both of which are detailed in a checklist. The check itself is performed in a session with decision makers and domain experts. Depending on their decision, the project can be canceled, put on hold, or approved to proceeded normally.
Unfortunately, the term Quality Gate is not used consistently. The term 'Quality Gate' can be applied to project management
, quality management
, risk management
, or any combination of these three management disciplines.
The term Quality Gate can be found in different software process models, e.g. the V-Modell XT
of the German federal administration. A similar concept can be found in Cooper's Stage-Gate-Model, which, in contrast to the V-Modell XT
, is not limited to the domain of software development. It can, moreover, be used for almost any type of new product development. The Stage-Gate-Model can also be used to manage multiple projects, in order to identify the most promising projects and to cancel the risky projects. The goal is to concentrate resources on the more promising projects.
Milestone (Project management)
Within the framework of project management, a milestone is the end of a stage that marks the completion of a work package or phase, typically marked by a high level event such as completion, endorsement or signing of a deliverable, document or a high level review meeting.In addition to signaling...
in a software project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
. Quality Gates are located before a phase that is strongly dependent on the outcome of a previous phase. They are especially useful between phases in which breaches in disciplines must be overcome. Such a breach typically occurs, for example, when embedded software must be transferred to a hardware chip. Quality Gates are more general than Milestones; Quality Gates can be used in larger set of more or less similar projects, whereas milestones must be defined for each project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
from scratch.
Each Quality Gate includes a check of documents relevant to the previous phase. Unlike a software review, this check is only formal; no deep check on the contents of applicable documents is conducted in a Quality Gate. A Quality Gate demands a set of documents and includes special requirements on these documents, both of which are detailed in a checklist. The check itself is performed in a session with decision makers and domain experts. Depending on their decision, the project can be canceled, put on hold, or approved to proceeded normally.
Unfortunately, the term Quality Gate is not used consistently. The term 'Quality Gate' can be applied to project management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
, quality management
Quality management
The term Quality management has a specific meaning within many business sectors. This specific definition, which does not aim to assure 'good quality' by the more general definition , can be considered to have four main components: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance and quality...
, risk management
Risk management
Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities...
, or any combination of these three management disciplines.
The term Quality Gate can be found in different software process models, e.g. the V-Modell XT
V-Modell
The V-Model is a systems development model designed to simplify the understanding of the complexity associated with developing systems. In systems engineering it is used to define a uniform procedure for product or project development.- Overview :...
of the German federal administration. A similar concept can be found in Cooper's Stage-Gate-Model, which, in contrast to the V-Modell XT
V-Modell
The V-Model is a systems development model designed to simplify the understanding of the complexity associated with developing systems. In systems engineering it is used to define a uniform procedure for product or project development.- Overview :...
, is not limited to the domain of software development. It can, moreover, be used for almost any type of new product development. The Stage-Gate-Model can also be used to manage multiple projects, in order to identify the most promising projects and to cancel the risky projects. The goal is to concentrate resources on the more promising projects.