Gateway Review
Gateway Review to oversee major public projects
May, 2008
In December 2007, Cabinet agreed that the State Services Commission should introduce Gateway processes and protocols for oversight of major New Zealand government projects.
Gateway is a framework developed by the United Kingdom's Office of Government Commerce, which uses a review process to make recommendations to improve the success levels and the quality of higher risk major government programmes and projects at key decision points in the project life-cycle.
Gateway's project assurance methodology uses short, intensive reviews at critical points in the project's lifestyle by a team of senior reviewers not associated with the project. This provides an arm's length assessment of the project against its specified objectives and an early identification of areas requiring action. The current criteria for a project to be Gateway reviewed are:
- ICT-enabled projects above $15m (total life-cycle costs) and non-ICT projects above $25m, both also having been assessed as high risk after completion of the Gateway assessment tool spreadsheet and in discussion with the SSC Gateway Unit.
- Projects of any cost considered high risk by Ministers after completion of the Gateway assessment tool spreadsheet and in discussion with the SSC Gateway Unit.
Gateway Reviews are applicable to a wide range of programmes and projects, including:
- policy development and implementation
- organisational change and other change initiatives
- acquisition programmes and projects
- property/construction developments
- IT-enabled business change
- procurements using or establishing framework arrangements.
The Gateway process provides support to Project Owners to achieve their business aims, by helping to ensure that the best available skills and experience are deployed on the project and all the stakeholders covered by the project fully understand the current status and that stakeholders' requirements are being met. The process also confirms that key risks are under control, the project is adequately funded and resourced, realistic time and cost targets can be achieved and that the project can progress to the next stage.
The advantages to a government agency of a Gateway review being performed on one of their large projects are that costs can be avoided and maximum benefits delivered, government change management capabilities are developed and increased assurance is provided for Ministers and Chief Executives. The reviews are short in duration and demand little time from participants in busy project teams and are designed to encourage and identify the use of best practice and improve the likelihood of success of the project.
Gateway Reviews provide an expert, confidential, free at point of delivery peer review. There are opportunities for government managers and experienced private sector advisors to participate on reviews and Gateway training will be free for public sector employees.
The State Services Commission is piloting the Gateway process and establishing and managing New Zealand Gateway processes and protocols.
