pushthrough

Pushthrough is a term used to describe the act or outcome of advancing a proposal, policy, project, or product through a barrier such as a governance process, regulatory approval, or organizational gate. It is usually used in business, policy, and project management to denote overcoming opposition and securing necessary authorization or resources.

Origin and usage: The phrase derives from the verb phrase "to push through" and has appeared in management and political journalism since the late 20th century. It is sometimes used as a noun in organizational slang, "a pushthrough," to describe a successful enactment or implementation.

Contexts: In politics, a pushthrough describes passing a bill or reform despite opposition, often through coalition-building and expedited procedures. In corporate settings, it can refer to rapidly implementing a strategic decision, launching a product, or approving a major change, typically requiring cross-functional alignment and disciplined project management. In software and IT, a pushthrough might involve moving a feature from development to production after passing testing and compliance checks, sometimes under tight deadlines.

Criticism and considerations: Critics warn that pushes through can sacrifice due diligence, stakeholder consultation, or long-term risk assessment in favor of speed. Proponents argue that disciplined, well-communicated pushes can enable timely responses to competitive or regulatory pressures.

Variants: The term is also written push-through or through-push in some contexts, and is closely related to phrases like "getting through" or "seeing through" a plan.