The CASA team will utilize the concept of phase gates to plan, engineer, and implement team projects.  The phase gate structure will be adapted as needed to suit the project, but in general will include the four gates described below.  Project documentation will reside in the the CASA Confluence Space under the Project Planning and Tracking page.  Snapshots of the documentation will be made after each phase gate and stored in the internal NRAO Sharepoint system for tracking by the Programs Management Department.

Conceptual Design Review (CoDR)

The CoDR will take place at the end of the conceptual design phase of the project.  It will assess the accuracy and completeness of the project charter.  The charter will include a project description, list of deliverables, key stakeholders, and project milestones. 

Preliminary Design Review (PDR)

The PDR will take place at the end of the preliminary design phase of the project.  It will assess the accuracy and completeness of the project requirements.  The requirements will be categorized using Moscow Rules[1] into the following groups of Must Have," "Should Have," "Could Have," and "Won't Have."

Critical Design Review (CDR)

The CDR will take place at the end of the critical design phase of the project.  It will assess the degree to which the design satisfies the system requirements.

Operational Readiness Review (ORR)

The ORR will take place at the end of the implementation phase of the project.  It will assess the degree to which the implementation satisfied the system requirements (product verification) and the degree to which the implementation satisfies the end user (product validation).