GoNoGoEntscheidungspunkte

Go/No-Go decision, sometimes written Go/No-Go-Entscheidung in German, is a decision point in project management and product development at which a proposal, project phase, or design option is either advanced or terminated. It is used to steer resources toward the most viable options and to prevent progression of plans that fail to meet critical criteria. The concept is closely associated with stage-gate or phase-gate processes, where a series of gates structure progress reviews.

Criteria for a Go/No-Go decision typically include technical feasibility, market viability, financial performance, schedule risk, and resource availability. These criteria are paired with predefined thresholds or scoring rules, and data are compiled in a business case or feasibility study. A decision is usually made by a governance body, with input from project leadership, engineering, finance, and often external stakeholders. The outcome is a formal record with actions, owner, and follow-up milestones.

Benefits of Go/No-Go decisions include early risk identification, better alignment with strategic goals, and efficient allocation of scarce resources. Challenges can include biased judgments, data quality issues, and delays caused by gate reviews. Go/No-Go decisions are intended to be objective, but require clear criteria, transparent documentation, and an appeal or revision path if the decision is negative.