Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding exit criteria in an acquisition program?

• A. Exit criteria are not specific to a particular phase of an acquisition program.
• B. Exit criteria are defined to reflect the objectives of the current phase.
• C. Exit criteria help determine transition to the next phase.
• D. Exit criteria can be reviewed during program milestones.

Answer: (A)

Exit criteria are defined to judge whether the current phase has achieved its objectives and is ready to transition to the next phase. Because each phase in an acquisition program has its own goals, deliverables, risks, and decision points, the criteria must be tailored to that phase rather than being generic for the entire program. This phase-specific focus ensures the program only moves forward when the conditions truly reflect the phase’s objectives and readiness.

Exit criteria guide the transition to the next phase by providing a clear gate that must be met before progress, and they are commonly reviewed at program milestones to verify status and approve continued execution. For example, a design phase might require a validated design, identified risks mitigated to an acceptable level, and agreed-upon cost and schedule baselines before moving into implementation.

Because of this, the statement that exit criteria are not specific to a particular phase is not accurate; exit criteria are indeed phase-specific.