The stage-gate process is made even more flexible by the so-called bounding box approach which does not set any limits to a creative development project. When a bounding box is used, management sets clear limits in the form of KPIs which can be measured specifically. As long as the development project remains within these boundaries, it can continue without formal gate approval. The decision-making body which decides on the future of the development project is not called upon unless the limits, such as a budget framework or the stipulated quality criterion, are exceeded or not met. The bounding box approach is often utilized for radical innovations when especially promising innovative products are being developed.

There is absolutely no problem in combining the process management concepts described above with one another so that the speed of individual process stages can be selected or adjusted at will.

Combination of specific process design methods in the Adagio and Presto zones depends on the degree of innovation in the product idea

In the Adagio zone, it is sensible to give priority to a combination of stage-gate and fuzzy gate approaches so that the goal of the fit-to-market can be achieved in the most comprehensive scope. The individual principles of these concepts must be applied as appropriate to the nature of the development project. If the project has a high degree of innovation, the utilization of the fuzzy gate approach is preferable because it promotes an especially innovative, open culture among the members of the development team. The use of the bounding box approach within the Adagio phase makes good sense only in exceptional cases such as extremely innovative product ideas.

During the Presto phase, nothing should stand in the way of the realization of the project for which there is an exact concept. The procedures should be drawn up so that the realization, testing, and launch of the product can take place as rapidly and with as few hitches as possible. This requires precise planning of resources, the involvement of the risk board to catch any possible risks, and the assignment of parallel activities.

Classification of the process variants according to degree of product standardization   

Process design according to the degree of product standardization, which also involves a sub-division according to speed levels, is a possible alternative to PLM process design according to Adagio and Presto phases. The overview below shows the sub-division of the concept into various design variants of the product lifecycle. The success of this method has been proved in numerous PLM projects. Both the product portfolio and the degree of innovation and complexity of a development project require application of a specific method for process design: