P3O Community - Gateway

Hosted by CPD's Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Delivery, the P3O Community met again on 25th February 2010 at the Mount Business Centre for an event focusing on the Gateway Review Process. We were delighted to have Phil Kemp (Head of OGC Gateway Brand Assurance) along who provided an update on a range of Gateway issues and how OGC plans to develop the brand going forward.

After a welcome from David Carson (CPD) attendees got a perspective from former Treasury Officer of Accounts David Thomson (DETI) who provided an insight into the experiences of an SRO (wearing his Account NI hat) going through the Gateway Review process. David spoke of the many benefits of the process and commented on the value of a short/sharp, independent review culminating in a confidential report with constructive evidence-based recommendations. He also commented on how Gateway helped him see the 'the wood from the trees' on a number of important issues.

Desi Curry (LibrariesNI) provided a Review Team Leader's perspective. Desi is one of our most active Gateway reviewers and has undertaken reviews both here and in GB including several as team leader. Desi spoke strongly about the need to properly represent the OGC brand principles in the way reviews are carried out and about the need to quickly establish good relationships with the 'home' team and the SRO in particular. He also commented on the learning opportunities afforded to reviewers and the lessons that can be taken back to their own programmes and projects.

The event closed with a panel Question & Answer session and attendees quizzed David Carson and Stephen McDowell from CPD alongside Phil and Desi on a range of Gateway related topics.

Presentations and the 'questions and answers' from the day's discussions can be accessed through the links below:-

ps ... as a result of a review carried out by Phil over the 25/26th Feb, CPD/CoE has retained OGC Gateway Authorised Hub status for another 2 years!