Tööetapp

Tööetapp is a term used to describe a distinct phase or stage in a work process or project. It represents a discrete portion of work with defined objectives, required inputs, expected outputs, and often a specified duration and resources. In practice, tööetapid help organize complex tasks into manageable units, enabling planning, sequencing, and monitoring of progress.

Etymology and usage: The word combines töö (work) and etapp (stage or phase). It is common in Estonian project management, process engineering, construction, manufacturing, and service delivery. A project or process is typically divided into several tööetapp, such as planning, design, implementation or execution, testing or verification, and delivery or handover. Each etap has defined inputs and outputs, a responsible person or team, and criteria for completion. Time estimates, risk controls, quality checks, and dependencies are often attached to each stage.

Contexts: In construction or manufacturing, tööetappid align with production steps or workflow stages. In IT or service-delivery contexts, they may correspond to phases like requirements gathering, development, testing, deployment, and support. In rehabilitation or education, etapas can structure progress through tasks or learning modules, with assessment at each stage.

Relationship to other concepts: The concept is closely related to workflow management and work breakdown structures, providing a framework to clarify what is to be done, by whom, and when, across the lifecycle of a project or process. The exact meaning and naming can vary by field or organization, but the core idea remains a defined, trackable portion of work.