A Business Case Analysis (BCA) is a document that provides a best-value analysis that considers not only cost but other quantifiable and non-quantifiable factors supporting an investment decision. A BCA should aid the decision maker in making an informed product support strategy decision. It should be tailored to inform the Program Manager of the costs, […]
A Pairwise Comparison is the process of comparing candidates in pairs to judge which of each candidate is preferred overall. Each candidate is matched head-to-head (one-on-one) with each of the other candidates. Each candidate gets 1 point for a one-on-one win and half a point for a tie. The candidate with the most total points
A Stakeholder is a person, group, or organization that has responsibility and influence over the success of a program or system. They can either be internal or external stakeholders but all have influence over the organization’s goals. Internal and External Stakeholders Stakeholders can be defined broadly as internal or external. Each has influence over an
The research process entails systematically acquiring knowledge, resolving issues, or addressing particular inquiries. It is a series of systematic procedures that a researcher must undertake to generate valuable knowledge relevant to the project and focused on the relevant subject matter. The process is iterative, with each subsequent step influenced by the preceding one. The successful
The Security Classification Guide (SCG) is part of the Program Protection Plan (PPP). It details how the information will be classified and marked on an acquisition program. It’s the written record of an original classification decision or series of decisions regarding a system, plan, program, or project. The SCG addresses each Critical Program Information (CPI),
A cross-functional team is a group of people with different functional expertise working toward a common mission and goal. It may include people from finance, marketing, operations, and human resources departments. It may include employees from all levels of an organization (Intra) and may also include people from outside (Inter) an organization (in particular, from
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is a written document describing a cooperative relationship between two parties wishing to work together on a project or to meet an agreed-upon objective. An MOA serves as a legal document and describes the terms and details of the partnership agreement. It is more formal than a verbal agreement but
The Delphi Technique is a multistep method used to estimate future demand for a product or service whereby a special group of experts in Risk/Cost/Schedule forecasting exchange views and then each individually submits estimates and assumptions to an analyst who reviews all the data received and issues a summary report. The summary report is then
A Working Group (WG) is an interdisciplinary collaboration of people working on a project or problem that would be difficult to develop under a traditional organizational structure or funding mechanisms. The lifespan of the WG can last anywhere between a few months to several years and can be a collaboration of a Cross-Functional Team makeup.
Total Life-Cycle Systems Management (TLCSM) is a system development approach of managing the development of a system from inception to disposal. The Program Manager (PM) is the single point of accountability for accomplishing program objectives for TLCSM. Consequently, the PM is responsible for the implementation, management, and/or oversight of activities associated with the system’s development,
Time Management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals. This set encompasses a
In 1965, Bruce Tuckman discovered that teams go through a team-building process comprised of five stages of growth: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and finally Adjourning. Teams do not typically go through the team-building process on their own accord. Teams must be led through the process by their Program Manager (PM). Below is a detailed explanation
Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat (SWOT) analysis provides direction and serves as a basis for the development of marketing plans. It accomplishes this by assessing organizations: [1] Strengths: what an organization can do Weaknesses: what an organization cannot do Opportunities: potentially favorable conditions for an organization Threats: potentially unfavorable conditions for an organization. Definition: A SWOT
Social engineering is a discipline in an acquisition that refers to efforts to influence popular attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale. Program managers spend time social engineering the aspect of their program to get approval, change opinions and/or educate the people around them. In the political arena, the counterpart of social engineering
A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) describes the participation of various organizations, people, and their roles in completing tasks or deliverables for a project. The Program Manager (PM) uses it to clarify roles and responsibilities in a cross-functional team, projects, and processes. A RAM has four primary assignments: Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed (also called a RACI
A Project Charter is a document describing key aspects of why a project team is established, what is expected of it, and what authority and responsibility it has. The Program Manager (PM) creates the project charter during the planning phase with input from key Stakeholders. It serves as a reference of authority for the future
Programmatic Environmental, Safety and Occupational Evaluation (PESHE) is an overall evaluation of a programs Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) risks and is required for all programs. The PESHE is part of a program’s Risk Management/Reduction program with the goal to eliminate ESOH hazards, where possible, and manage their associated risks where hazards cannot be
In Program Management, the Program Manager (PM) is the designated individual with the responsibility for and authority to accomplish program objectives for the development, production, and sustainment to meet the user’s operational needs. Definition: A Program Manager is the individual responsible for the overall COST, SCHEDULE, and PERFORMANCE of a variety of projects across a
A Program Management Review (PMR) is a structured program review that is conducted by the Program Manager (PM) with all key Stakeholders. A PMR might be conducted at a specific milestone on a program or on a predictable schedule (Monthly, Quarterly, or Semi-Annually). The PMR should focus on the main deliverables in the Statement of
A Program Deviation Report (PDR) describes deviations (also called “breaches”) to the Acquisition Program Baseline (APB) to the Defense Acquisition Executive (DAE) and Component Acquisition Executives (CAEs). [1] When the Program Manager (PM) has reason to believe that the current estimate for the program indicates that a performance, schedule, or cost threshold value will not
Problem-solving is a mental process and is part of the larger problem process that includes problem finding and problem shaping. Considered the most complex of all intellectual functions, problem-solving has been defined as a higher-order cognitive process that requires the modulation and control of more routine or fundamental skills. Problem-solving occurs when an organism
Management Reserve (MR) is the amount of the Total Allocated Budget (TAB) withheld for management control purposes, rather than designated for the accomplishment of a specific task or set of tasks. It is held and applied through a disciplined process to any additional work that is to be accomplished within the authorized work scope of
A lesson learned is information gained through experience that your organization should retain for future use and that can be relevant to other organizations. Depending on the lesson, it could be a valuable technique or an outcome that you wish to repeat or it could be an undesirable result you wish to avoid. Often, identifying
An Issue Log is a Program Management tool that contains a list of ongoing and closed project issues. It’s used to organize current issues by type and severity in order to prioritize them and assign responsibility. A Program Manager (PM) may be used to handle thousands of issues across multiple projects. An issue log is
A Force Field Analysis (FFA) provides a framework for looking at the factors (forces) that influence a situation. It looks at forces that are either driving the movement toward a goal (helping forces) or blocking movement toward a goal (hindering forces). FFA is a concept that was developed by Kurt Lewin in 1943 as a
