mellansteg

Mellansteg is a Swedish term that denotes an intermediate step or stage within a larger process, project, or system. Derived from mellan (middle) and steg (step), it refers to a point that sits between an initial phase and a final objective. The concept is used in Swedish discussions of planning, design, and production to describe a middle layer of work with defined inputs and outputs.

In project management and product development, mellansteg often corresponds to midlevel phases such as feasibility studies, concept design, prototyping, or milestone reviews. In manufacturing, systems engineering, or integration work, it can describe an intermediate processing stage or testing phase before full-scale production. In software development, it may align with iterations, sprint reviews, or design freezes that must be completed prior to release.

Common characteristics of mellansteg include a clearly defined scope, specific deliverables, dependencies on earlier steps, and a decision point or gate to proceed. They are used to reduce risk, validate assumptions, and secure alignment among stakeholders before committing additional resources to the final deployment or implementation.

The term is predominantly used in Swedish contexts; in English, it is typically translated as intermediate step or intermediate stage. It is distinct from the final objective or milestone, serving instead as a bridge or checkpoint within a broader plan. References to mellansteg appear in project planning, engineering design, and process improvement discussions in Swedish literature and practice.