Kill Points
Kill points are predetermined decision points in a project life cycle where stakeholders have the explicit option to terminate the project based on performance, viability, or strategic relevance.
Explanation
Kill points are closely related to phase gates but carry a specific emphasis on the termination option. While every phase gate technically includes the possibility of stopping the project, a kill point makes this option explicit and prominent. The purpose is to prevent the sunk-cost fallacy, where organizations continue investing in failing projects simply because they have already spent significant resources.
At a kill point, the review authority evaluates whether the project still makes business sense. Has the market changed? Have costs escalated beyond acceptable limits? Has a competitor launched a similar product? Are the technical challenges insurmountable? If the answer to any of these questions undermines the project's viability, the project should be terminated, and remaining resources should be redirected to higher-value work.
Establishing kill points at the beginning of a project is a best practice in project governance. It normalizes the decision to stop a project, removing the stigma that often prevents organizations from making rational termination decisions.
Key Points
- •Explicit decision points where project termination is a primary option
- •Designed to prevent the sunk-cost fallacy
- •Evaluate continued business viability and strategic relevance
- •Should be defined during project planning as part of governance
Exam Tip
Kill points and phase gates are related but not identical. If the exam question emphasizes the decision to terminate a project, the answer is a kill point. If it emphasizes a general review and go/no-go decision, it is a phase gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Phase Gates
Phase gates (also called stage gates) are formal review points at the end of a project phase where authorized stakeholders evaluate the project's progress, deliverables, and business case to decide whether to continue, modify, or terminate the project.
Project Governance
Project governance is the framework of authority, accountability, policies, and decision-making processes that guide a project from initiation through closure, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and stakeholder expectations.
Governance Framework
A governance framework is the structured set of policies, procedures, standards, roles, and responsibilities that an organization establishes to direct and control its projects, programs, and portfolios.
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