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This chapter examines the Australian Government’s approach and experience to date in implementing the Gateway Review Process (Gateway).
The Australian Government undertook research in 2005 to identify ways to improve the delivery of major projects (as measured by successful project delivery on time and within budget) by Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 agencies (FMA agencies). From the options available to the Government for meeting this objective, the decision was made by Cabinet to implement Gateway, which had been developed in the United Kingdom by the Office of Government Commerce in 2000 and subsequently applied by the Victorian Government in 2003.
Gateway is a project assurance methodology designed to improve project delivery. The methodology involves a small team of independent experts conducting short, intensive and timely reviews at key decision points (referred to as Gates) during the life of the project. The reviews focus on the issues that are most important to the project at that stage of the project’s life, with reference to an established set of areas to be considered for each Gate that address the proven and comprehensive Gateway methodology. One of the key benefits of Gateway is that the reviews are focussed and short in duration, allowing reports to be high level and action oriented, highlighting where corrective action may be required at that particular point in time.
Implementation of Gateway provides an opportunity for the Australian Government to apply an approach that is acknowledged to have delivered on its objectives. [2] Demonstrable benefits in respect to project delivery have been achieved in other jurisdictions through:
identifying the skills and experience required to deliver successful projects;
increasing stakeholder understanding of their role in successful project management and the factors which contribute to the achievement of project objectives;
identifying early in projects where corrective action may be required; and
improving project management and delivery skills.
Gateway also sits well with the Government’s budgeting and accountability framework. [3]