Prosjektmilestones

Prosjektmilestones are key events or points in time that mark important stages in a project’s progress. They serve as reference points for planning, tracking, and communicating how a project is advancing toward its objectives. Milestones are not tasks themselves; rather, they signify the completion of a phase, the delivery of a critical artifact, or the attainment of a go/no-go decision.

Milestones are established during project planning by identifying deliverables, dependencies, and decision points. They are typically tied to the project schedule and may be linked to the critical path to highlight impact on overall timing. Clear ownership, specific due dates, and acceptance criteria are assigned to each milestone to avoid ambiguity and facilitate accountability. SMART criteria (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) are commonly used to define milestone success.

Common types of milestones include phase milestones (start or end of a project phase), deliverable milestones (completion of a key artifact or component), approval milestones (formal sign-offs by sponsors or governance bodies), and external milestones (regulatory approvals, vendor milestones, or market launches).

Milestones are tracked and reported through milestone charts or project dashboards. They support performance measurement, variance analysis, and risk assessment, and they are often integrated with earned value management and governance reviews. Effective milestone management avoids excessive or vague markers, maintains alignment with the critical path, assigns clear ownership, and ensures timely communication with stakeholders.