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Project Management
Milestone
Quick Definition
A significant point or event in a project timeline that marks the completion of a major phase, deliverable, or decision point.
Detailed Explanation
Milestones have zero duration — they represent achievements, not activities. Examples include project approval, requirements sign-off, design complete, user acceptance testing passed, and go-live.
Milestones serve as progress checkpoints, decision gates, and communication triggers. They're often tied to payment schedules in contracts and reporting requirements for stakeholders.
In PRINCE2®, milestones correspond to stage boundaries where management reviews progress and decides whether to continue.
Related Terms
Relevant Frameworks
PMBOKPRINCE2