The Independent Reviewer's Handbook - Text Versions

Gating Model 1: Full gating for very large and highly complex projects

This graphic illustrates full gating for large and highly complex projects. It is recommended that a project of this scale employ a full seven-gate model. The seven–gate model includes the following gates in order from beginning to end: Concept, Approach, Business Case, Project Charter, Detailed Plan, Construction/Deployment, and Post-implementation.

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Gating Model 2: Streamlined gating for projects of medium size, risk, and complexity

This graphic illustrates streamlined gating for projects of medium size, risk, and complexity. It is recommended that a project of this scale employ a streamlined five-gate model. The five–gate model includes the following gates in order from beginning to end: Approach, Business Case, Pre-construction, Pre-deployment, and Post-implementation.

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Gating Model 3: Light gating for small, low-risk projects with little complexity

This graphic illustrates light gating for small, low-risk projects with little complexity. It is recommended that a project of this scale employ a light three-gate model. The three–gate model includes the following gates in order from beginning to end: Business Case, Pre-construction, and Post-implementation.

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Sample Gates, Workshops and Health Checks Across Project Life Cycle (PLC)

This graph provides an example of how gates plus workshop and health check reviews could be scheduled over the course of a project.

The top section of the graph is a linear chart that breaks the Project Life Cycle (PLC) down into phases over the course of a project. In this example, the total project length is 45 months and the project phase breakdown is as follows:

• Initiation phase begins in month 0 and ends in approximately month 7
• Planning phase begins in approximately month 6 and ends in approximately month 19
• Execution phase begins in approximately month 13 and ends in approximately month 39
• Closing phase begins in approximately month 39 and ends in approximately month 45.

The second section of the graph is a linear chart that breaks down the project according to the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). In this example, the project phase breakdown is as follows:

• Conception phase begins in month 0 and ends in approximately month 9
• Planning and Design phase begins in approximately month 8 and ends in approximately month 19
• Construction phase begins in approximately month 19 and ends in approximately month 32.
• Deployment phase begins in approximately month 31 and ends in approximately month 38.
• Support phase begins in approximately month 38 and ends in approximately month 45.

The third section of the graph contains gates plus workshop and health check reviews listed in order of the month during which they occur. The X axis of the graph shows project time in months while the Y axis of the graph illustrates the rate of project expenditure. The order of the gates plus workshop and health check reviews is as follows:

• Gate 1: Strategic assessment and concept–Month 3
• Gate 2: Project approach–Month 6
• Workshop: Architecture review–Month 9
• Gate 3: Business case and general readiness–Month 10
• Gate 4: Project charter / PMP–Approximately month 13
• Workshop: Requirements review–Month 15 
• Gate 5: Detailed project plan and functional specifications–Month 19
• Workshop: Design review–Month 21
• Health check review–Approximately month 25
• Gate 6: Construction complete and deployment readiness–Month 33
• Deployment complete–Month 39
• Gate 7: Post-implementation review (6 months after deployment) –Month 45.

The graph also contains a line that traces the rate of project expenditure throughout the project life cycle.  The line is similar to a standard bell curve. It increases as the sample project reaches the planning / planning and design phases, peaks in the execution / construction phases, and declines in execution / deployment phases.

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