How do we eliminate from gate-review meetings?

Politics exist in any life cycle phase of a project. Where there is more than 2 people involve there will be politics. Politics can have positive or negative impact on a project. Politics can influence in GO/NO-GO decision of project advancement. To eliminate or minimize politics in gate review meeting, committee sponsorship can be adopted to minimize the politics. Committees members can be from marketing team, R&D and operations. The committees members will be able to make decisions in best interest of the company/project and this will eliminate politics that will influence the decisions making.

Question 2

How can we develop a methodology where termination of project in not viewed as a failure?

In this case study , risk management can be applied as one of the methodology  where termination of a project in not viewed as a failure. There are three ways to handle project risks. One is risk avoidance, in which you reduce the project scope, at some cost in product performance or competitiveness. Another is risk transfer to a trusted or warranted third party. 3rd is risk acceptance, you then apply risk assessment and control techniques to manage risks. 

Question 3

Were the wrong people assigned as sponsors?

 I would like to believe that the project sponsor and project manager are in partnership for the duration of the project. For this to be successful partnership, the sponsor needs to be connected to the project manager and the project team.  A project sponsor delaying decision, you are inevitably delaying the work needed to deliver the project. Even though the sponsors chose the project managers, there is no partnership with the team  as marking got blame when things didn't go according to plan. So yes a better sponsor for more knowledge got have been assigned. 

Question 4

What options are available to project managers when there exits a disagreement between the sponsor and the project manager?

The project manager need to analyze, collect data, analyze more and search for more data of all the scenarios before a final decision or agreement can be made. Project manager are always willing to share their views so use this to your advantage. Ask for proposals and get them to explain the limitations of each option. Detail explanations and logical counterarguments might not get you to an right decision, but it will lead you to an informed decision. 

Question 5

Can your answer to question 4 be outlined as part of the project management methodology?

Yes as Waterfall method could be used in the project by sequential steps as this project is already in longer project timeline .