A segment of a project has ended. Before moving on to the next segment, the project manager wants to assess if the work produced in the previous segment meets a high enough standard and if adequate…

Reviewing progress reports provides updates but is less formal and comprehensive than a phase-gate review for making go/no-go decisions between project segments.

Performing a gap analysis identifies differences between current and desired states, which is part of planning or problem-solving, but not the primary mechanism for formal phase transition approval.

A phase-gate review (or kill point, stage gate) is a formal review conducted at the end of a project phase or segment. Its purpose is to evaluate the project's performance, assess deliverables for quality and adherence to standards, and determine if the project is ready to proceed to the next phase, including reviewing resource availability and overall viability.

Setting up touch points with the team is for ongoing communication and minor check-ins, not a formal assessment and decision point for moving between major project segments.