In which project phase are milestones typically established?

Milestones are typically established during the planning phase of a project. This phase is crucial for defining key objectives, deliverables, and timelines, which are all encapsulated in the milestone establishment process. Milestones serve as significant progress markers that help in monitoring the project's trajectory and ensuring it stays on schedule. By laying out these milestones early in the planning phase, project managers can create a timeline that identifies when specific parts of the project need to be completed, facilitating better resource allocation and risk management.

In contrast, while milestones may be referenced in other phases, such as execution and closure, they are most critically defined in the planning phase. The initiation phase focuses more on project feasibility and stakeholder identification, without detailing deliverables. The execution phase deals with implementing the project plan rather than setting milestones. The closure phase is concerned with finalizing project deliverables and assessing success, rather than planning future milestones. Hence, the planning phase is where the groundwork for effective milestone tracking is established.