Stage management
What are stages
Stages are high-level phases that track the lifecycle of launches and milestones. Unlike milestones (which are specific deliverables), stages represent broad phases of work like "Discovery", "Implementation", or "Launch".
Key differences
Stages: high-level phases (Discovery, Implementation, Launch)
Milestones: specific deliverables within those phases (PRD complete, Beta testing done)
Luna supports separate stage systems for launches and milestones, each with their own categories and workflows.
Stage categories
Launch stage categories
Backlog: launches requested and added to the backlog
Not Started: planned launches not yet started
In Progress: active launches being worked on
Completed: launched features (won't be marked overdue, excluded from in-progress reports)
Closed: cancelled or discontinued launches
Milestone stage categories
Not Started: milestones not yet begun
In Progress: milestones actively being worked on
In Review: milestones requiring approver attention (triggers pending action notifications)
Completed: finished milestones
Default stages
Luna provides predefined stages when you create a new workspace, with some stages being editable and others fixed:
Launch stages
Examples of editable stages: To be prioritized, Discovery & planning, Setup essentials, Development, Enablement, Beta, Post launch implementation ..
Non-editable stages: Not started, Kickoff, Planning & scoping, Implementation, Marketing readiness, Launched
Milestone stages (non-editable): Not started, In progress, In review, Completed
Create and manage stages
Create new stages
Go to Settings > Stage Management
Click "+ Create new stage"
Enter stage name
Select or drag the stage into the appropriate category
Save the stage
Order stages
Drag and drop stages within categories or between categories
Edit and delete stages
Edit stage names and categories anytime
Delete custom stages (some default stages cannot be deleted)
If you delete a stage that has launches using it, those launches will need new stage assignments
Template stages
Set up template stages
When creating or editing a template, define the stage sequence
Template stages determine what stages are available for launches created from this template
Users creating launches from templates inherit the predefined stage flow
Blank template stages
Launches created "from scratch" use the "blank template" stage configuration
Configure blank template stages in Settings > Stage Management
This sets the default stage options for ad-hoc launch creation
Predefine milestones under stages
From Stage Management, you can predefine standard milestones for each stage:
Example:
Stage: "Marketing Readiness"
Predefined milestones: Landing page copy, Email campaign, Social media assets
Set up predefined milestones
In Settings > Stage Management, click on a stage
Add standard milestones that should appear whenever this stage is used
When users create launches (via template or blank), these milestones are automatically added
Users can edit, delete, or add more milestones as needed
Update stages in Launch Details Page
Blank launches (created from scratch): users can change the list of stages freely in the launch details page
⚠️ Template launches: stages are fixed based on the template and cannot be edited in launch details
Stage change impacts
Removing a stage: if you remove a stage that has milestones, those milestones move to an "Other milestones" section (uncategorized)
Stage requirements: every launch must have at least one "Not Started" and one "Completed" stage available
Stage-based workflows and automation
Workflows
Stages can trigger custom workflows that you define e.g., “When milestone reaches "In Progress" stage → Create a Jira epic”
Configure workflows using the hamburger menu of the launch or milestone in the Launch Details Page and selecting "Set workflows".
Notifications
Stage changes can trigger notifications that you enable in Settings > Notifications (examples: receive a notification when “Launch stage is changed”, “Milestone stage is part of the 'Completed' category” ..)
Built-in stage behaviors
Some stage behaviors are automatic:
Launches in "Completed" category are excluded from overdue tracking and progress reports
Milestones in "Completed" category are excluded from overdue tracking and progress reports
Milestones in "In Review" stage create pending actions and notifications for approvers
Stage management best practices
Launch stages should reflect your workflow:
Map stages to actual phases your team follows
Use consistent naming across templates
Align stages with team responsibilities
Use stage categories strategically:
"Completed" category affects reporting and overdue tracking
"In Review" category creates pending actions for approvers
Stage categories drive Luna's automated workflows
Template organization:
Create templates with logical stage sequences
Use predefined milestones to standardize deliverables
Configure blank template stages for ad-hoc launches
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