Decision Gate Structure
Decision-Gate Structure
The project team is onboard with using decision gates to review progress. The sequence below is the confirmed structure for recording those reviews. The project team is aligned with this structure.
| Gate | Review point and decision | Evidence considered | Agreed decision role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 — Inception and scope | Confirm that the project scope, research plan, common methodology, and initial source-and-stakeholder plan are adequate to proceed. | Milestone 1 report and inception materials | ELK project lead, with input from the relevant vertical leads. |
| Gate 2 — Framework completion | Review whether the framework tools and methodology are sufficiently documented to apply to the verticals. | Framework documentation and supporting research | ELK project lead; formal milestone acceptance remains subject to the grant agreement. |
| Gate 3 — Vertical application | Review whether each vertical analysis follows the agreed methodology and supports its findings with evidence. | Governance, Agricultural Supply Chain, and Bitcoin DeFi impact-chain analyses, including their sources, assumptions, and limitations | ELK project lead and the relevant vertical lead for each analysis. |
| Gate 4 — Cross-vertical synthesis | Review whether the analyses are comparable and whether the resulting conclusions and recommendations are supported by the evidence. | Cross-vertical comparison, KPI contribution analysis, and final reporting | ELK project lead; formal milestone acceptance remains subject to the grant agreement. |
Decision gate structure confirmed on September 1st 2026 by: Benjamin Ben Zvi Sam Lambert Sheldon Hunt Jess Fields