phaserequires

Phaserequires is a conceptual term used to describe the prerequisites that must be satisfied for a project phase to begin or transition. The phrase combines 'phase' and 'requires' to denote gating conditions, and it is used in some project management and systems engineering discussions to clarify what must be true before work proceeds. It is not universally standardized and may be described differently across organizations.

A phaserequire typically comprises exit criteria or gating criteria, specific deliverables, quality standards, resource availability, regulatory or compliance checks, and identified dependencies on other teams or projects. In practice, a phaserequire defines what is needed to demonstrate readiness to move forward, and it may be formalized in a phase review or gate decision.

Applications occur in software development, product development, construction, and research projects that use stage-gate or phase-gate processes. For example, before starting the design phase, a project might require validated user requirements, a completed risk assessment, a finalized architecture plan, and secured budget; before deployment, testing and compliance verification may be required.

Limitations include variability in how organizations implement phaserequires, potential ambiguity in what constitutes completion, and the risk that overly rigid gating slows progress. When well-defined, however, phaserequires can improve governance, accountability, and alignment with strategic objectives.

See also: gate review, stage-gate process, prerequisite, readiness criteria.