The GO / NO-GO Decision

Launch decisions fail in two directions: launching unready ventures, and endlessly delaying ready ones. An explicit decision rule protects against both — and makes the decision explainable to boards, ministries and financiers.

The IORS decision rule

GO requires two conditions at once: every mandatory gate criterion is Verified or formally Not Applicable, and the overall weighted readiness score meets the project threshold (80% by default). If exactly one condition holds, the decision is CONDITIONAL GO — launch is conceivable under named conditions with owners and dates. If neither holds, it is NO-GO.

Because the rule is explicit, the decision is reproducible: two assessors with the same evidence reach the same conclusion, and management can see precisely what would change the outcome.

CONDITIONAL GO is a managed state, not a loophole

A CONDITIONAL GO records exactly which gaps remain, who owns them and by when they close. It converts pressure to launch into a controlled, monitored path — instead of a quiet erosion of standards.