--- title: Stages Overview description: Stages overview article --- [Skip to content](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![IdeaScale](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ideascale-logo.png?width=223&height=31&name=ideascale-logo.png)](https://help.ideascale.com/?hsLang=en) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Go to ideascale.com](https://ideascale.com/) [Go to ideascale.com](https://ideascale.com/) Hi!👋 How can we help you today? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [IdeaScale Support Center](https://help.ideascale.com/?hsLang=en) 2. [Campaign Management](https://help.ideascale.com/campaign-management?hsLang=en) 3. [Workflow](https://help.ideascale.com/campaign-management?hsLang=en#workflow) # Stages Overview ## Overview about all the stages that can be created ***Workspace Homepage \>\> Navigation Panel \>\> \>\> Campaigns \>\> Community \>\> Workflow*** | What are Stages? | | --- | | Stages are configurable workflow phases within a Campaign's Workflow that guide how ideas progress from initial submission to implementation. | IdeaScale offers a total of eight Stage functions (TO BE VERIFIED — source text states "seven"), each of which can be customized so that a specific group or all community members are permitted to participate or view. The Community Administrator defines these stages in the Workflow settings, and the Moderator advances ideas through them based on evaluation and readiness. ---   **TABLE OF CONTENTS** [Ideate Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Ideate-Stage) [Build Team Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Build-Team-Stage) [Refine Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Refine-Stage) [Estimate Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Estimate-Stage) [ReviewScale Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#ReviewScale-Stage) [Fund Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Fund-Stage) [Assessment Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Assessment-Stage) [Reserve Stage](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#Reserve-Stage) [Selected Group Details](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#selected-group) [Stage End Date](https://help.ideascale.com/overview-stages#stage-end-date) IdeaScale offers a total of seven Stage functions, that can be customized in a way that a specific group or all community members can be permitted to participate or view. ### Ideate Stage IIn this stage, community members browse ideas, add comments, and vote for favorite ideas. The most popular ideas rise to the top. [**Help article on Ideate Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/ideate?hsLang=en) --- ### Build Team Stage In this stage, participants assemble teams of experts, implementers, and champions around the most promising ideas. Community members can browse ideas, check for open positions, and join idea teams. [**Help article on Build Team Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/build-team?hsLang=en) --- ### Refine Stage In this stage, idea teams provide additional details about their ideas. Team members answer questions and help develop the ideas, refining them into proposals for implementation. [**Help article on Refine Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/refine?hsLang=en) --- ### Estimate Stage In this stage, participants estimate the value and cost of ideas. Submitted estimates are averaged to determine each idea's overall estimated return on investment. [**Help article on Estimate Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/estimate?hsLang=en) --- ### Reviewscale Stage In this stage, ideas are reviewed by experts from the community. Reviewers rate ideas based on a specified set of criteria to help identify the ideas with the most potential. [**Help article on ReviewScale Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/reviewscale?hsLang=en) --- ### Fund Stage In this stage, participants pledge funds to ideas. Funders distribute resources among the best ideas to prepare them for implementation. [**Help article on Fund Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/fund?hsLang=en) --- ### Assessment Stage In this stage, ideas are assessed through custom questions answered by a reviewer team assigned by the Community Administrator. [**Help article on Assessment Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/assessment?hsLang=en) --- ### Reserve Stage This stage stores ideas that are not currently active in the innovation workflow. [**Help article on Reserve Stage**](https://help.ideascale.com/reserve?hsLang=en) --- ### Selected Group Details The Community Administrator can review which group has been assigned to each stage in the Workflow by selecting the \*\*Selected Groups\*\* link. The chosen group for that stage then displays in the Workspace side panel or on the Workspace edit page. ![selected group details](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/selected%20group%20details.png?width=670&height=267&name=selected%20group%20details.png) --- ### Stage End Date The Community Administrator can define an end date for stages within specific Campaigns in the Campaign Settings. After this end date passes, community members can no longer participate in those stages — for example, they can no longer vote on or comment on ideas in that stage. ![Screenshot 2026-02-27 at 12.34.02 PM](https://help.ideascale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202026-02-27%20at%2012.34.02%20PM.png?width=670&height=267&name=Screenshot%202026-02-27%20at%2012.34.02%20PM.png) ***Note: Once a Stage End Date passes, participation for that stage closes automatically; there is no manual override noted in the source.*** Last Updated: September 23, 2026 - [Product Updates](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#main-content) - [2026](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#2026) - [2025](https://help.ideascale.com/product-updates?hsLang=en#2025) - [Workspace](https://help.ideascale.com/workspace?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Workspace Homepage](https://help.ideascale.com/workspace?hsLang=en#workspace-homepage) - [Manage Workspace](https://help.ideascale.com/manage-workspace?hsLang=en#main-content) - 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