Milestones to Efficiency

Milestones to Efficiency June 2015SUCCESS FACTORSEach of the case studies examines a different aspect of program management within government:• The SSA: the value of a career development program to develop highly skilled, trained and qualifiedprogram managers• The BIA: the successful implementation of project management in a program to reduce violent crime, and• The FAA: a solid project/program management foundation to provide the necessary experience and skillsto streamline the creation and implementation of new air-safety technology.These case studies illustrate the value of OPM to realize program benefits across disparate programs andgovernment agencies. Each also illustrates how OPM aligns organizational goals. And, while on the surface, thesecase studies appear to have little in common, they share certain project and program management attributesthat led to success for each. These attributes include:Strong Leadership CapabilitiesIn all three programs, the program manager was hands-on andinvolved at every level of the operation, but especially at theimplementation level. His focus on the benefits kept the programon track. 3 He understood the importance of educating others, evenmentoring where possible. He kept in constant contact, monitoringprogress (or hurdles) closely, and followed up regularly with hiscolleagues. He also served to provide coordination between thevarious stakeholders and other parties and often had the clout toget others to listen. In some cases, he was also quite vocal about“The lead programmanager… provided hisinternal workforce, aswell as external partnersand stakeholders,with a clear roadmapthat would not acceptanything short ofsuccess.”[Transforming AirTraffic within the USNational AirspaceSystem. P. 9]individual successes, serving to increase camaraderie and selfconfidencewithin the team. And, lastly, he “had their backs,” andproved to be a strong supporter and believer in the program.Commitment to OPMPMI’s OPM frameworkprovides specificknowledge activities…which an agency can buildupon and custom fit to itsneeds. 2Each of the leaders, as well as many of the individuals, assigned tothe programs had project or program management experience, andmany had formalized training with certification. They understoodthe value of a standardized organization, or situation-specific,approach to project and program management, including the valueof formalizing principles and practices. For the SSA, the commitmentwas institutionalized through various guidelines, regulations andgenerally accepted practices.2Using PMI Standards Framework to Improve U.S. Federal Government Capital Investment Outcomes. John D. Driessnack, Olde StoneConsulting, LLC. Pg. 18.3In all three (3) case studies the program/project leader was male.©2015 Project Management Institute, Inc.3