Abstract: A comprehensive method and system is provided for developing and implementing new computer software applications through a series of distinct stages. Following the completion of each stage, a tollgate meeting is held between the various parties involved and a decision as made on whether the project should be advanced to the next stage. Guidelines, templates and checklist items are provided for each stage in a user-friendly manner over an interactive computer interface, such as a web page. By providing on-line guidance to project developers, the system and method of the present invention substantially decreases the likelihood of errors being made which introduce costs in both time, resources, and risk. Further, the present system, through its comprehensive, global nature, substantially increases the ability for distributed locations to stay in tune with what each other are doing. Because all locations must develop applications in accordance with the above-described system, added consistency results.