CommTech Systems provides professional services for project management, and project controls. We provide professional services in project management, and in project management training. We help solve problems. We are focused on establishing best practices, and in project policy and procedures. Our staff is certified as Project Management Professionals (PMP), by PMI (Project Management International). Our training curriculum is also certified by the PMI.
We focus on: understanding customer project requirements, identifying projects risks, constraints, and developing the project plans. CommTech Systems follows the PMI process. As well as the DoD Earned Value Management process, as outlined in Professional Program Management guide.
In terms of requirements development for our Department of Defense customers CommTech has conducted requirements analysis that address DOTMLPF (Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities and Policy) requirements. These institutional requirements go a long way to ensure that projects and programs are constructed so that they address the breath of institutional needs that will ensure project success. As an example, this approach ensures that the training of personnel assinged to a task is addressed, as well as answering the question where will these people come from, what equipment will they need, and where will the equipment and personnel be housed.
Other requirements analysis tasks that have been conducted for the Marine Corps, Joint Expeditionary Energy Office, focused on the Combat Readiness Optimized Networks program, the goal of this program is to evaluate the means to reduce the energy and water use of military forces. CommTech was directly involved in developing the Mission Essential Task List (METL) requirements and Use Cases focused on vehicle fuel use and monitoring. In addition, CommTech conducted engineering studies and analysis in the evaluation of commercial products and technology used for Machine to Machine (M2M) communication for internal vehicle diagnostics and external vehicle communications, that enabled vehicle data storage, and collection.
In addition, CommTech has assisted decision makers by providing variance analysis through the Earned Value Management System (EVMS). It has provided Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) studies allowing decision makers the ability to accurately compare options in terms of near and long term goals. The goal of these program analysis tools is to assist the project manager:
- By providing the ability to isolate problems.
- By allowing for an alternative course of action.
- By providing the ability to take early action on risk.
- By providing management a decision making process rooted in reality.
- By providing project controls that forecast project completion dates and final costs.
On December 1, 2016, the U.S. Senate unanimously reapproved S.1550, the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act of 2015 (PMIAA).
The findings demonstrated by PMI’s 2016 Pulse of the Profession report (http://www.pmi.org/learning/thought-leadership/pulse) “indicate that standardized approaches, engaged executive sponsors and certified professionals are fundamental building blocks to all organizations achieving their highest levels of performance. Improving program management leads to benefits such as increased collaboration, improved decision making and reduced risk. PMI’s report also uncovered that only 64 percent of government strategic initiatives ever meet their goals and business intent — and that government entities waste $101 million for every $1 billion spent on project and programs. The research also shows that these best practices result in improved efficiency and less money being wasted. Most importantly, organizations see more projects delivering expected value to stakeholders on time and within budget.”
The intent of the bill is to enhance program and project management accountability and to institute project management best practices throughout the federal government. The PMIAA intends to reform federal program management policy in four ways:
- Creating a formal job series and career path for program managers in the federal government.
- Developing standards based program management policy across the federal government.
- Recognizing the essential role of executive sponsorship and engagement by designating a senior executive in federal agencies to be responsible for program management policy and strategy.
- Sharing knowledge of successful approaches to program management through an interagency council on program management.
In all projects there is an inverse relationship between risk or change, and cost. The relationship is based on the fact that changes cost more and take longer to implement as the project progresses. The same hold true for risks, known risks can be dealt with relatively inexpensively early in the project planning phase. Once identified a means to address the risk can be planned for, and if the risk appears the plan can be implemented.
However, as the project progresses changes often require rework, and dealing with risks often requires rework. Implementing the discipline of Project Management provides the change management structure that allows for planned and vetted changes. Another aspect of Project Management planning is risk management. These two elements when executed properly reduce the risk in projects of cost and schedule overruns.
No matter the duration of the project, all projects follow the same general life cycle. They start off slow in terms of consuming resources. They will ramp up to different degrees, and begin to consume additional resources as they move from planning to project work.
Project work is where most of the resources are consumed in making a product, or in the delivery of a service. Once the goals of the project have been accomplished the project will begin to wind down and will decrease its consumption of resources; until the project is closed or ended.
It is the quality of the project plan that will determine and ensure project efficiency. As the graph implies, all that follows planning is dependent on the quality and completeness the of the plan. The focus of project management is to ensure the plan is feasible in terms of the use of the resources, in time and space; it is acceptable in terms of the benefit outweighs the cost of the resources; it is suitable in that the project is developed in coordination with the project stakeholders, and meets their requirements; finally the project is complete in that it meets the project objectives and intended purpose.
What We Do
CommTech Systems provides senior staff that are trained and certified in the PMI project management process. We help Solve Problems.
The PMI process encompasses five elements of project management: initiating, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and in closing out the project. These PMI process groups establish the boundaries and guidelines that provide the framework for project management best practices. The results are projects that conclude on time, within budget, and meet the quality objectives of the project.
The key to this process is experienced personnel that understand that the PMI process is fundamentally a democratic and participative process. It is one that depends on the involvement of all of the primary stakeholders. In terms of risk this depends on all stakeholders, those that are directly involved in the project, and those that perceive they are effected by the project. The role of the project manager is to ensure active and appropiate participation by all stakeholders, and to focus and to drive the project team to accomplishing the project objectives.
We provide our customer’s experienced project managers that have direct project management and training experience; we help solve problems.