Gate/Activity |
Description |

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G-10: Requirements Scope
Lock-Down
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Business Objective: Approve the Scope of
Work for which the organization will commit to develop requirements.
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board: Program Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), and
Performing Organization(s)
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the following documents
are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria defined in the
Release Planning Procedure (SOP 1005).
Contracting
Organization (OWN)
Business
Plan Impact Assessment
Performing
Organization (OWN)
Responsible
for scheduling, notification, meeting materials, meeting facilitation
and meeting minutes for this formal Review
Board meeting.
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Review Board
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Review
the results of the concept phase and commit to the definition and planning
of a project. Target delivery
windows may be established, but this does not constitute a commitment to
deliver the project as it is defined at this point.
The additional definition and planning which takes place during the
definition phase will increase knowledge about the scope, cost and
schedule of the project which may result in changes to any or all of those
parameters.
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Review Board
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The
Review Board’s acceptance of the approved documents by the Receiving
Organization moves each SOW document to the Development Function of the
Performing Organization for analysis.
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager ensures coordination between Contracting and Performing
Organizations. Project
Managers facilitate meetings and document meeting outcomes. This effort is focused at reducing cycle time and
maintaining the highest level of common understanding between parties.
Further, the Project Manager will refine the project plan
incorporating data available.
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The
Operations Group defines the capacity requirements within the high-level
configuration management plan. The
Capacity Plan feeds the Definition Phase Plan developed by the Project Manager.
The capacity requirements defined in this plan should include:
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Estimated
number of users
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Simultaneous
user capacity per server
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Number
of servers
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Peak
users supported, threshold percentage of peak
Additionally, Operations must work with Development
to identify any application code specifications that might impair or aid in
capacity performance.
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G-9:
Definition Phase Plan Approved
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Business Objective: Approve the plan to
execute the definition phase so that the project’s business requirements
(scope, timeframe and cost) are met
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board: Program Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), and
Performing Organization(s)
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the following documents
are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria defined in the
Requirements Definition Procedure (SOP 1040).
Plan
for the Definition Phase – Owner: Project Manager
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Organizations:
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In
order to complete the plan for the Definition Phase, the Project Manager
requests and receives the items listed below from various areas of both
the Contracting and
Performing Organizations. Acceptance
criteria for each item listed are defined in the Requirements Definition
Procedure (SOP 1040).
Contracting
and Performing Organizations (CON)
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Detailed
Schedule
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Resources/Costs
Assigned
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Capital
Budget
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Risk
Plan Developed
Validation Function of the
Performing Organization (CON)
Operations Function of the
Performing Organization (CON)
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Project Manager
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The
deliverables for G-9b contribute to the development of the project’s
communication plan and project plan by the Project Manager. At this point
the Project Manager ensures that all known assumptions, dependencies,
constraints, and risks are reflected in the project plan.
The
Project Manager sends recommendations to minimize the impact from
assumptions, dependencies, constraints, and risks to the Program Sponsor.
The Program Sponsor supports the resolution and/or mitigation of
project barriers by working with OCE and/or Unit Managers.
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In
order to develop a more refined capacity plan, Operations must refer to Service
Level Agreements (SLA's) for any relevant considerations. Relevant considerations may include, but are not limited to:
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Client
expectations of maximum load level
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Client
expectations regarding disk space and processor speed
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Client
expectations regarding bandwidth, availability, response time, and other factors
that impact site responsiveness for users
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G-8: System Requirements
Definition Approved
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Business Objective:
Obtain approval of the system
requirements definition(s) from the Contracting Organization(s).
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board: Program Manager,
Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), and Performing
Organization(s)
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager facilitates the dialog necessary between all parties that
participated in the definition of SOW documents for the Development
Function of the Performing Organization to complete Systems Requirements
Specifications.
The
Project Manager has responsibility for ensuring full disclosure of
features, functionality and technical constraints that impact the project
scope approved at Gate 10.
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Review Board
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The
Review Board reviews the approved System Requirements Specifications.
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Initial
Operations capacity requirements estimates are made based on the Scope
of Work (SOW) documents generated in the Release Planning Procedure (SOP
1005) and the System Requirements created in the Requirements Definition
Phase. More refined
estimates must be completed prior to passing Gate 7. These more refined
capacity estimates must include the following:
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Estimate
of risk level
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Time
required to deliver work
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Resources
required to deliver work
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Hardware,
software, network and bandwidth requirements
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Cost
associated with the environment
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QA,
FOA/Beta and Staging Environment capacity specifications
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Specification
for stress testing during the Quality Function Procedure (SOP 1210)
These
estimates are forwarded to the Project Manager to include in the Project
Plan, if necessary. Lastly, procurement needs are considered and the
Procurement and Purchasing Procedure (SOP 1004) is executed if purchasing of assets and/or services is required. |
G-7: Lock-Down Level
Estimates Complete |
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Business Objective: Complete the
estimates and scope refinement necessary for Lock-Down.
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board: Program Manager,
Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), Architecture Function
of the Performing Organization(s), and Development Function of the
Performing Organization(s)
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Project Manager |
The
Project
Manager is responsible for ensuring that the documents in the
next activity are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria
defined in the Requirements Definition Procedure (SOP 1040) |
Organizations:
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Performing Organization
(OWN)
Architecture Function of the
Performing Organization (OWN)
Development Function of
Performing Organization (OWN)
Contracting Organization
(OWN)
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Project Manager |
The
Project Manager ensures coordination between Contracting and Performing
Organizations. This effort
is focused at reducing cycle time and maintaining the highest level of
common understanding between parties.
Further,
the Project Manager will refine the project plan for the release
incorporating data provided through this gate. The Project Manager will
communicate the final portfolio scope to all interested areas in the
organization
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Operations, by working with
the individuals within the Configuration Management group, will identify
final hardware requirements, hardware and software configurations
necessary and the execution plan intended.
This information will feed the final Configuration Manager plan
(SOP 1003). This plan will be presented to the Project Manager and
contained in the release project plan for project management purposes. |
G-6: Project Lock-Down
(Also described as: Go/No Go
Decision or Cross-functional Commitment to the Delivery of a Defined Set
of Features and Functionality)
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Business Objective: Obtain commitment
between the Performing Organization(s) and the Contracting Organization(s)
for the delivery of a defined project scope of work within a defined
timeframe. (This scope is a refinement of the G-10 scope/plan).
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board: Program Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), Performing
Organization(s), and Service Organization
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Project Manager
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The
Project
Manager is responsible for ensuring that the documents in the next
activity are
completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria defined in the
Requirements Definition Procedure (SOP 1040).
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Organizations:
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Project
Manager
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Contracting
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Performing
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Project Manager (OWN)
Contracting Organization
(OWN)
Performing Organization
(OWN)
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Project Manager
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In
order to complete the project plan, the Project Manager will request and
receive materials listed in G-6d from various areas of both the
Contracting and Performing Organizations.
Acceptance criteria for each item listed are defined in the
Requirements Definition Procedure (SOP 1040).
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Organizations:
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Contracting and Performing
Organizations (CON)
Program Sponsor, Contracting
and Performing Organizations (SUP)
QA Function of the
Performing Organization (CON)
Operations Function of the
Performing Organization (CON)
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for scheduling, notifying participants,
creating meeting materials, facilitating meetings and distributing meeting
minutes for this formal Review Board meeting.
Note: This gate is a
significant step in the System Development Life Cycle as it is the point
where both the Contracting and Performing Organizations commit to project
scope, cost and schedule.
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Review Board
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The
Review Board reviews the results of the definition phase and re-evaluates
the business objectives of the project.
This review may result in agreed upon changes in scope, cost and/or
schedule. The resulting
agreement represents a commitment between the Performing and Contracting
Organizations to deliver the project as defined within the agreed upon
scope, cost and schedule constraints.
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager ensures coordination between the Contracting and
Performing Organizations. Further,
the Project Manager communicates the project scope and schedule to all
interested parties.
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After Project Lock-Down has taken place, Operations
can begin working on preparing the development test environment. In order to do
so, Operations will utilize the capacity management data developed in the prior
gate. A test environment will be used later for stress testing to analyze and
verify recommended capacity requirements.
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G-5: Detailed Plans Complete
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Business Objective: Approve the detailed
project plan and commit the appropriate resources to execute the plan.
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Owner: Project Manager
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Review Board:
Project Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, and Performing Organization
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the documents in the next
activity are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria defined in the
Detail Design Procedure (SOP 1041).
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Performing
Organization
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Development Function of the
Performing Organization (OWN)
Architecture Function of the
Performing Organization (OWN)
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Allocated
Requirements
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System
Interfaces
The Architecture Function of
the Performing Organization includes the Development and Operation
Functions since they share responsibility for delivery and support of the
delivered solution. Development
handles the creation of the interface code.
Operations manages the receipt, processing and storage or interface
data; this includes service level considerations for capacity, turnaround
time, and connectivity.
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Project Manager
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In
order for the Project Manager to complete the project plan, he/she will
use the project plan from the Development Function of the Performing
Organization to update the overall project plan.
Acceptance criteria are defined in the Detail Design Procedure (SOP
1041).
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Stress
testing takes occurs in Gates 3 and 2. Stress
testing validates or questions the initial capacity requirements defined.
In order to properly stress test the environment, the capacity management
data in the configuration management plan must include:
If
the stress testing uncovers an issue with the capacity of the environment,
Operations must return to analyzing the environment and create a more refined
configuration management plan.
Once stress testing has identified
that the environment is suitable for the expected capacity, Operations notifies
Site Monitoring of the thresholds for reporting exceptions.
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G-3: Begin System
Certification
(Product Acceptance Testing)
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Business Objective: Approve release of the
product to System Certification Testing.
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Owner: Contracting Organization(s)
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Review Board: Program Manager,
Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), System Certification
Function of the Contracting Organization(s), and Validation Function of
the Performing Organization(s)
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the validation testing in
the next activity is completed with quality and meets acceptance criteria defined in
the Training and Documentation Procedures (SOP 1101) and Quality Function
Procedures (SOP 1210).
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Validation
Function of the Performing Organization
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The
Validation Function of the Performing Organization completes a review and
validation of the Preliminary Documentation provided by the Development
Function of the Performing Organization.
Acceptance by the Validation Function of the Performing
Organization is required prior to beginning system certification.
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager has responsibility for verifying completion and obtaining
signoff from the Validation Function of the Performing Organization.
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G-2: Begin FOA/Beta
(Client Acceptance
Testing)
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Business Objective: Approve release of the
product for first office application.
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Owner: Contracting Organization(s)
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Review Board: Project Sponsor, Program
Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), System
Certification Function of the Contracting Organization(s), Performing
Organization(s), Validation Function of the Performing Organization(s),
and Service Organization
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Project Manager
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The
Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the documents and actions
in the next activity are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria
defined in the Quality Function Procedure (SOP 1210)
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Organizations:
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Performing
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Contracting
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Support
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Training
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Development Function of the
Performing Organization (OWN)
Validation Function of the
Performing Organization
Contracting Organization
Training Organization
Service Organization
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Review Board
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Gate
2 requires a formal management review.
The Deployment Phase represents a significant milestone to the
customers in the lifecycle of a project.
There is also significant risk associated with this milestone. The project product
is expected to be of commercial quality at this time and any data from the
validation phase that indicates otherwise must be carefully analysed in
terms of its potential impact to the selected customer site.
Options at this review include approval to deploy the project
product, approval to deploy with exceptions due to some subset of the
scope having failed validation, and approval of a schedule delay (and
consequent additional cost) to correct problems that are known to exist.
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Project Manager
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Deviations
in deliverables or timeframe are handled using a formal process with the
results communicated by the Project Manager to all areas participating in
the effort.
Any
decisions concerning scope, cost and schedule tradeoffs, the Gate 6 Review
Board shall formally review the situation.
Should the Gate 6 Review Board need to assemble, the Project
Manager is responsible for scheduling, notifying participants, creating
meeting materials, facilitating meetings and distributing meeting minutes
for this formal Review Board meeting. The Project Manager updates any
resulting changes to the project plan.
This may lead to the request and collection of revised estimates
from Performing, Contracting, and Service Organizations.
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In this gate, the Operations
Function works to ensure that the FOA is rolled out smoothly, based on the
thresholds obtained during the stress test.
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G-1: Begin Controlled
Rollout
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Business Objective: Approve the release of the
product for controlled rollout. This gate is only required when a
controlled rollout (CRO) is planned as an integral phase of the project.
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Owner: Contracting Organization(s)
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Review Board: Project Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), Performing
Organization(s), and Service Organization
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Project Manager
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The Project Manager is
responsible for ensuring that the documents and actions in the next
activity are
completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria defined in the
Training and Documentation (SOP 1101) and Deployment and Post
Implementation Procedures (SOP 1220).
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Organizations:
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Performing Organization
(OWN)
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FOA
test results
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Service
training
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Client
acceptance
Contracting Organization
(OWN)
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Project Manager
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Since
a controlled rollout occurs in the production environment, the documents
in G-1b must meet quality and acceptance criteria defined in the Training
and Documentation (SOP 1101) and Deployment and Post Implementation
Procedures (SOP 1220). When a
controlled rollout is an integral phase of the project plan it is
mandatory, otherwise, this gate is optional.
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Operations
works to ensure that general availability rolls out smoothly, based on the
thresholds obtained during the stress test,
FOA and controlled rollout.
Capacity
Planning Requirements for Expected Site Spikes
Certain
events may invite an increase in simultaneous users.
If these events are known in advance, capacity management can be executed
in order to properly plan for these events. In these cases, capacity management is the same as that for a
release with one exception; there are no gates that must be passed.
At a minimum, Operations should be notified two weeks prior to the
expected event.
Capacity
Management for On-Going Operations - Reactive Capacity Management
Reactive
capacity management must be executed in the same manner as stated above. This
procedure will be executed when an operational issue arises.
Upon notification from Site Monitoring of a production issue, Operations
analyses the issue. If the issue is capacity related, Operations follows the
procedure as stated above with the exception of the gates.
Gates will not be invoked when evaluating capacity needs that are not
related to a release.
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G-0:
General Availability
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Business Objective: Approve the release of the
product for general availability.
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Owner: Contracting Organization(s)
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Review Board: Project Sponsor,
Program Manager, Project Manager, Contracting Organization(s), Performing
Organization(s), and Service Organization
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Project Manager
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The
Project
Manager is responsible for ensuring that the documents and actions
in the next activity are completed with quality and meet acceptance criteria
defined in the Deployment and Post Implementation Procedures (SOP 1220).
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Organizations:
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Contracting
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Service
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Performing
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Training
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Contract Organization (OWN)
Service (OWN)
Performing (OWN)
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Service
training
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FOA
test results
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Order
entry system
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Client
acceptance
Training (OWN)
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Review Board
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Gate 0 requires a formal
review process. It is the
final management phase review that occurs upon completion of initial field
deployments (First Office Application and Controlled Rollout) which are
intended to provide final validation of the project product in a live
system environment. This
review effectively marks completion of the project and acceptance by the
Contracting Organizations from the Performing Organization.
The
Review Board reviews and approves completion of the Gate 0
requirements. Deviations in
deliverables or timeframe are handled by convening the Gate 6 Review
Board. This group will make any decisions concerning scope, cost,
and schedule tradeoffs.
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Project Manager
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Should the Gate 6 Review
Board need to assemble, the Project
Manager is responsible for scheduling, notifying participants,
creating meeting materials, facilitating meetings and distributing meeting
minutes for this formal Review
Board meeting. The Project
Manager updates any resulting changes to the project plan.
This may lead to the request and collection of revised estimates
from Performing,
Contracting, and Service Organizations.
The Project Manager is
responsible for attending the Program/Project
Management post implementation review on the project and holds a
meeting with other Program and
Project Managers to review lessons learned.
Trends and issues encountered over a number of projects are
discussed as wells as new techniques that proved successful.
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Performing Organization
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The Validation Function of
the
Performing Organization conducts a project post-implementation
review in which representatives from all areas participating in the
project review the project. Quality
issues and their root cause are discussed.
The Quality Assurance group documents the post implementation meeting
and distributes to all attendees, all
Project Managers and Program
Managers as well as the PMO.
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