Stages are an integral part of a case and are always associated with it. The case stage or phase may or may not be related to a milestone. Similarly, activities can be associated with a phase or stage or with multiple phases or stages. A case will transition from one case stage to another based on the rules that act on milestones, tasks, activities, and events. The following diagram shows the stages that a case passes through while moving from Opening to Closure:

The following table highlights the facts around the Case Stage pattern: