Decision Gates in systems engineering are pivotal points in a project where the progress and direction are evaluated to determine whether to continue, modify, or halt the project based on current status and future implications. They are commonly referred to as approval events because each gate involves a formal review process where stakeholders and decision-makers assess various aspects of the project, including performance, risks, and alignment with project goals.
At these gates, critical assessments are made, and documented approvals are required to ascertain whether the project meets the necessary requirements to proceed to the next phase. This ensures that resources are efficiently allocated and potential issues are identified early in the development process. By characterizing these gates as approval events, it emphasizes the role they play in the decision-making framework, underscoring their importance in guiding the overall trajectory of the project through structured validations at each stage.