The Stage-Gate® model according to Robert G. Cooper is a classic and popular tool for resource allocation and flow planning within innovation processes.
So-called quality gates limit individual phases of an innovation project and make them measurable. At each gate, the progress of the project is checked and a decision is made on how to proceed.
In this way, resources required for the next project step (“stage”) can be planned in a differentiated manner. The Stage-Gate® model is suitable for carrying out several innovation projects simultaneously and efficiently, as well as for reducing risks.
The dependency of the next project step on the output of the previous step should ensure that no unnecessary or misoriented work takes place. Only an evaluation of the stage output at the gate defines when and in which form the process is continued.
Due to the sequential process, an overlapping of individual phases is not intended, but often makes sense. Therefore, there are various further developments of the model in which parallel processes within a project are also possible.