Fourstage
Fourstage, sometimes written as four-stage, is a general descriptor used across disciplines to denote a process or system divided into four sequential phases. Because it is a versatile pattern rather than a fixed framework, the specific meaning of each stage depends on the domain, organization, and objectives. The concept is commonly employed to improve planning, tracking, and evaluation by making progression explicit.
Common four-stage frameworks include the following domain examples:
- Project management: initiation, planning, execution, closure.
- Product development: ideation, design/development, testing/validation, launch.
- Software or data engineering: ingestion, transformation, storage, retrieval.
- Education and training: introduction, practice, assessment, feedback.
Variations exist in labeling and emphasis; some models use initiation, development, deployment, and refinement, while others
See also: stage-gate processes, phased lifecycle models, and other structured approaches to project or product development.