Thanks Masa. If I was thinking more cross solution, I would suggest the following URL parameter:
launchpad.html?cockpit=ZESS which would then look at only ZESS cockpit PFCG roles (like NWBC does), and use the groups available to that cockpit). Just changing the order of things would be confusing to a user going to ESS and seeing MSS tiles.
I realise it's a legacy design approach, but we're a long way off replacing a portal (be it SAP Portal, NWBC, Sharepoint, etc); with a single Launchpad for a user, and it's probably a little presumptuous of SAP designers to think they can be the single launchpad for a company.
In terms of a direct launch, with a portal in place, I'm not sure this makes much sense as in a portal wouldn't you just use OBN directly to the underlying Tile application and hence you wouldn't have users navigating back to the launchpad incorrectly in this scenario?
Also, that link is very useful. Thanks for that too.
Cheers,
Matt