What are project milestones?

Project milestones represent significant stages in the progression of a project. These milestones are critical checkpoints that help manage and measure the project's timeline and overall progress. By defining specific milestones, project managers can ensure that the project stays on track, facilitate communication among team members, and provide a means to assess whether the project is advancing as planned.

These milestones often mark the completion of key phases or deliverables, allowing teams to evaluate their accomplishments and make any necessary adjustments before moving forward. An example of a milestone might include the completion of a project draft, approval of a budget, or the start of the implementation phase. Recognizing these turning points is essential for effective project management, as they help in organizing the workflow and aligning the team's efforts towards achieving the final project goals.

In contrast, memorable events in a project, final project reports, and meetings with stakeholders may all play roles in the project management process, but they do not encapsulate the primary function of milestones, which is to serve as quantifiable markers of progress.