Yleisvaiheet

Yleisvaiheet is a Finnish term used in project management and other disciplines to denote the general stages through which a process typically passes. The word is formed from yleis (general) and vaiheet (stages). It does not refer to a specific, universal framework; rather, it describes a high-level sequence that can be adapted to different domains, from product development and research to education and construction.

In practice, yleisvaiheet provide a high-level scaffold for planning, communication and risk management. Organizations define their own set of phases and criteria for progression, and the content of each phase differs by field. The term emphasizes the lifecycle nature of work rather than prescribing exact methods. It is commonly used when a broad overview is needed, without locking into a particular methodology.

Common elements that are often encompassed by yleisvaiheet include:

- Määrittely ja tavoitteiden asettaminen

- Suunnittelu ja resursointi

- Toteutus ja seuranta

- Arviointi, testaus tai validointi

- Päätös, käyttöönotto ja lopetus

Because yleisvaiheet are broad and flexible, they aid communication among stakeholders and help align expectations. However, they should be adapted to context and are not a substitute for a formal methodology or quality controls. The term functions as a descriptive concept rather than a prescriptive framework, useful for outlining the general progression of work across different disciplines.

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