Stagesspecification

Stagesspecification is a formal design construct used to define and control the progression of a process through a finite sequence of stages. Each stage has explicit entry and exit criteria, required inputs and outputs, and governance rules that determine when the process may advance, pause, or terminate.

Although not a universal standard, stagesspecification is widely used in systems engineering, software development, manufacturing, and business process management to bring clarity, traceability, and accountability to complex workflows. It often aligns with stage-gate or milestone-based models where decisions are made at predefined points.

Common components include: the sequence and names of stages; entry criteria (what must be true to begin a stage); exit criteria (what proves completion); required artifacts or data; roles and responsibilities; decision points and approvals; timing or duration constraints; and escalation or exception handling rules.

Representations may employ natural language descriptions or machine-readable formats such as YAML, JSON, or formal modeling languages. In practice, stagesspecification is implemented as part of a workflow or pipeline, with tooling that enforces the criteria and logs progress.

Benefits include improved consistency, risk management, regulatory compliance, and easier auditing. Challenges include maintaining flexibility, avoiding overly rigid gates, and ensuring that criteria remain aligned with evolving requirements. Effective use relies on clear ownership and version-controlled documentation.