Run a gate
Pick a gate and a project, set the state of each piece of evidence, and get the outcome, the rule that fired and the questions to ask. This is the check_gate answer.
Evidence · 9
Mark all:G8 · Go / no-go
Is it safe to switch to the new solution now?
Proceed to the next stage and record the decision.
Go: all required evidence is present, current, or waived with a reason and an approver.
All gates
G0 · Bid / no-bidShould we pursue this opportunity at all?
- Uncertainty assessed (complexity domain named)
- Client decision-maker identified
- Sponsor and funding source identified
- Fits our capabilities and strategy
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G1 · CommitCan we commit to scope, price and approach?
- Delivery approach chosen and recorded
- Contract model fits the uncertainty: fixed price only for clear or complicated scope, or after a paid discovery
- Regulatory obligations listed in the SOW assumptions and priced
- Service levels agreed in the SOW: hours, priorities, response and resolution times
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G2 · LaunchIs everyone ready to start work?
- Client decision-maker available for the agreed cadence
- Business decision-maker available for the agreed cadence
- Charter filled in together with the client, not after the fact
- Charter agreed with the business decision-maker and the sponsor, not after the fact
- Tools and environments ready
- One accountable lead with decision rights named
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G3 · Scope baselineDo we understand the needs well enough to specify them?
- Needs confirmed with the people who have them
- Conflicting needs made visible and owned
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G4 · Requirements readyIs the next work specified well enough to design and build?
- Priorities agreed with the decision-maker
- Every requirement traced to a goal
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G5 · Design and plan approvedCan the team build without guessing, and do we know when it will arrive?
- Top risks have owners and responses
- Forecast stated as a range, not a single date
- Critical path meets the fixed date with an explicit buffer; the fallback decision date is set
- Forecast at the agreed confidence meets the fixed date; fallback scope agreed
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G6 · Test readinessIs the solution complete enough to verify end to end?
- Every increment meets the Definition of Done
- Deliverables reviewed against the agreed quality criteria
- Code reviewed and the pipeline green
- Configuration deployed to test from the packaged solution; no manual changes in test
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G7 · AcceptanceDoes the solution do what the business needs?
- No open critical defects
- Acceptance criteria verified by business users
- Verified end to end by the owners of consuming systems
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G8 · Go / no-goIs it safe to switch to the new solution now?
- Rehearsal done when data is migrated
- Rollback rehearsed on a copy of production and timed
- Business ready: people trained
- Cut-off agreed with users and counterpart systems
- Counterpart systems confirmed readiness and the window
- Non-functional requirements verified: performance and security results against the NFR
- Migration report is from the final rehearsal or the production load, not from a trial load
- Users set up, licences assigned, roles tested with real accounts
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G9 · HandoverIs the solution stable enough for operations to own it?
- Incident rate back to the agreed baseline
- Support team accepts ownership
- Adoption at the agreed level (active users; work is done in the new system or process, not around it), measured against the success metrics
- Warranty start and defect handling recorded
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details
G10 · ClosureIs everything closed and was the value delivered?
- Contracts, budget and access closed
- Success metrics compared with their baselines, or a benefits review scheduled
- Pivot, persevere, scale or stop decided against the success metrics
The evidence set depends on the project context. Gate details