Gate Readiness Score™
A structured 0–100 evidence assessment produced before every gate review in the SpanForge Exit Gate System™. Scored across five dimensions. A score below 70 triggers an automatic remediation plan; no gate review is scheduled until the threshold is met.
An evidence threshold at every gate
Before each gate review, the programme team produces a Gate Readiness Score™ — a structured 0–100 assessment across five dimensions: technical readiness, business value evidence, operational integration, compliance status, and stakeholder alignment.
The score is an evidence assessment, not a task count. Each dimension is scored based on documented artefacts the team can present to the Gate Authority. A score below 70 triggers an automatic remediation plan — no gate review is scheduled until the threshold is met.
The 70-point threshold
A Gate Readiness Score™ below 70 triggers an automatic remediation plan. No gate review is scheduled until the threshold is met. The threshold is a filter, not a formality — teams with scores below 70 typically have not produced the underlying evidence the Gate Authority needs to make an advancement decision.
Five dimensions of readiness
Each dimension reflects a category of evidence the Gate Authority requires in order to make a defensible advancement decision.
01
Technical Readiness
The technical work required for this stage has been completed and verified. Accuracy, performance, and integration requirements are met and documented.
02
Business Value Evidence
Measurable business outcomes have been demonstrated — not asserted. KPIs are defined, baselined, and the initiative shows movement toward the target.
03
Operational Integration
The system has been integrated with operational processes, data pipelines, and support structures. The people and workflows that will run it are confirmed.
04
Compliance Status
Applicable regulatory and governance requirements have been identified, assessed, and either satisfied or formally risk-accepted with documented rationale.
05
Stakeholder Alignment
Business sponsor commitment, cross-functional sign-off, and end-user readiness are confirmed. Accountabilities are documented and agreed.
Two functions in one instrument
The Gate Readiness Score™ serves two distinct functions across the lifecycle.
Team target before each review
The Gate Readiness Score™ gives teams a clear, measurable target before each review, removing ambiguity about what "ready" means. Teams know exactly what evidence they need to produce and can self-assess against the threshold before requesting a gate review.
Structured brief for the Gate Authority
The score gives the Gate Authority a structured evidence brief rather than a narrative presentation, making advancement decisions faster and more defensible. It replaces "are we ready?" with a scored, dimensional assessment.
Common implementation mistakes
Setting thresholds too low
Teams presenting at reviews with scores below 70 typically have not produced the underlying evidence. The threshold is a filter, not a formality. Lowering it to accommodate unprepared teams defeats the purpose of the mechanism.
Skipping the score for trusted initiatives
A Gate Authority that grants advancement based on relationship capital rather than a documented Gate Readiness Score™ breaks the evidential contract the system depends on.
Treating the score as a checklist
The score is an evidence assessment, not a task tracker. Marking a dimension complete without the underlying artefact produces a score that does not reflect actual readiness.
“A gate that every initiative passes is not a governance mechanism. It is a rubber stamp with extra steps. If your gate reviews never result in a Return decision, your evidence thresholds are too low.”
First use in the portfolio audit
In the recommended 90-day adoption roadmap for the SpanForge Exit Gate System™, the Gate Readiness Score™ is used in the first 15 days as the primary instrument for the portfolio baseline assessment. A score is produced for every active initiative. In most cases, initiatives believed to be “nearly ready for production” are revealed to be at Stage 01 or Stage 02. This is the clarifying function of the assessment.