Saturday, August 11, 2007

EVM not serving its intended function at U.S. DoD

A recent article in InsideDefense titled "Pentagon to Take New Steps to Combat Major Cost, Schedule Problems" describes strong warnings issued by top DoD officials. Kenneth Krieg, who stepped down July 20 as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD-AT&L), issued a July 3 memo stating...
Several unfavorable findings from recent audits indicate that earned-value management (EVM) is not serving its intended function in the internal control process,
DOD components are due to update John Young, acting USD-AT&L by early October on "efforts to underscore the rules and get better results," according to InsideDefense. "Young announced in a July 30 letter that the military departments will be compelled to immediately form powerful Configuration Steering Boards (CSBs) for every major program in development."

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posted by Garry B @ 7:54 AM, Read More...  
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4 Comments:

At 2:07 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

what does this say about applying earned value outside of government programs? i mean the feds can apply new mandates to 'follow the rules' but apparently they still have trouble making EV work as intended. Yet a lot of commercial sector companies don't even know what EV is?

 
At 8:03 PM, Anonymous Jerry Manas said...

I have another phrase for it...

"No project manager left behind."

 
At 9:07 AM, Blogger Garry B said...

Two comments...(edited)
(1) It sounds like the DoD is having trouble with Project Management 101. Uncontrolled and unauthorized scope changes are bad, no matter the project size. This is an example of why I say we must become Masters of the Obvious. Yet, it is easier for managers of smaller projects to become Masters of the Obvious.
(2) Unauthorized changes in scope are a problem that stands out plainly, like a gaping wound. Configuration Steering Boards may help. However, I think a more hidden problem -- a chronic problem -- is how requirements are translated to front-line daily action. Every day that a standing army is not cystal clear about the next intended outcome, the cost grows a little and the schedule slips a little. It is Death by a Thousand Cuts. The first step in solving this chronic hidden problem is recognizing that it exists.
/Garry

 
At 9:25 AM, Blogger Garry B said...

...and a comment about EVM. I believe the future of project management, including EVM, is to make it simpler and more universally appealing. There are plenty examples of this "sophisticated simplification" (borrowing words from David Allen) or "disruptive technology" (borrowing words from Clayton Christensen) including personal computers and desktop publishing. It would be surprising, however, if this starts at the top of the Defense Department. If history is a guide, the revolution will start with entrepreneurial companies. So there is hope.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Disruptive_technology

 

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