Go / No Go Decision
Official Definition:
A point in the project lifecycle where a decision is made whether to proceed, delay, or stop.
Layman’s Definition:
A Go/No-Go Decision is a formal moment where the project team and stakeholders decide: “Do we move forward or not?”
Examples:
• IT: After user acceptance testing — do we deploy or delay?
• Construction: Before starting the next phase — is the site ready and legal approvals in place?
• Healthcare: After a pilot programme — are results strong enough to expand?
When to Use:
At major control points — typically at stage boundaries or after key milestones.
What It Might Look Like in Practice:
• Decision log entry.
• Supported by End Stage Reports, Business Case updates, risk reviews.
• Involves Project Board or Steering Group.