The Defense Acquistion University Press Fort Belvoir, Virginia USA has published a Department of Defense Extension to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowldge (PMBOK®A PMI® Guide) dated June 2002. This DAU document is advertised as a "work of the United States Government and may be reproduced by the public"
The draft is a comprehensive set of DoD practices for each of the knowledge areas of the current PMI PMBOK. Most importantly, the Extension goes on to describe, in detail, additional areas of PM knowledge particular to the US DoD practices. These are
These PM knowledge general accepted practices are applicable to all major project driven acquisitions. Since the establishment of the Generally Accepted Project Management Practices Directory (GAPMP) more than four years ago the PMFORUM has included the Project Systems Engineering Management and Project Logistics Management to the Generally Accepted Practices Directory. While reading the DoD Extension to the PMBOK® it was clear that both the Project Software Acqusition and Project Manufacturing generally accepted project management practices should be added to the PMFORUM's GAPMP Directory.
The Extension is a substantial pdf document download of some 4MB. It is a comprehensive read of some 277 detailed pages. A well thumbed copy should be in the personal library of Acquisition Executives, Project Managers and Contractors. While much of the project processes and description is oriented to US DoD practices, policies and procedures it should be read as a generic description of project management practices for any major project undertaking.
The DAU description of the Extension is an alert for contractors doing business with the DoD.
"The U.S. DoD Extension has been approved as a Project Management Institute (PMI) Standard. It provides supplemental and unique information on DoD system acquisition processes that are not contained in the PMI PMBOK® Guide. Many of those processes are commercial processes that have been embraced by DoD program management, yet were not contained in the PMBOK® Guide. The Extension is a reference that is in the public domain and may be freely reproduced subject to the caveats described in the Extension’s Publication Process on page iii. Readers that are familiar with the PMBOK® Guide will find that the Extension follows both the numbering format and style of the PMBOK® Guide; in that sense it is a true companion reference to the latter document. In the short term the Extension is designed to “fill in the gaps“ on defense program management for PMBOK® Guide users; in the long term it is envisioned that the Extension will be used as a reference on mutual DoD – Commercial certifications."
It is a work of the US Government and as public funding was used in the complete development and preparation of the document it is in the public domain. You can download a FREE copy of the Defense Acquisition Univerity's U.S. DoD Extension to the PMI PMBOK Guide.
This is a not to missed project management documentation of generally accepted practices applicable to all significant project undertakings. It is the project management book of practices bargain of the year and a fitting place to start reading up on project management or refresh your project management knowledge.
David Curling
Executive Editor
PM World Today
by Harvey A. Levine
So, yet another book on project management you might ask? The difference is that Harvey Levine has set down his knowledge, understanding and experience of project management honed over some forty years of exposure in the industry. This latest book provides practical and pragmatic advice, not just for the project management practitioner but also for senior management seeking to leverage the best out of the discipline in today's competitive world. His lighthearted style makes for easy reading without detracting from the value of the message.
The book covers the whole spectrum of project management. Its topics range from new paradigms of portfolio management to project communications and how to make them work. It integrates new ideas with true and trusted old ones with useful sidebar tips.
Harvey observes: Project management is a many-faceted discipline. It will usually involve project scoping, task planning and scheduling, resource planning and workforce management, budgeting and cost control, risk and contingency management, change management, and project closeout. And while we are doing this, we will need to apply skills in maintaining quality, avoiding scope creep, and managing extensive and sensitive communication, with numerous stakeholders, in widespread locations.
For example, we are reminded that:
"Practical Project Management: Tips, Tactics, and Tools" is a valuable work for the insights it contains into the real world of genuine project management. It is written by an author who has obviously been there, done that. This is a very readable book. Recommended.
R. Max Wideman
Fellow, PMI
KIDASA Software, Inc., makers of the Milestones line of project management software, has released release Successfully Presenting Your Projects, a free best- practices guide to presenting a variety of project reports.
Successfully Presenting Your Projects offers straight-forward advice on translating project details into a brief summary which conveys project status.This free booklet contains simple solutions, methods, checklists and colorful examples of concise project reporting, along with tips on what to report when you don't know where to start.
Topics include:
For additional information visit the KIDSA Web Site.
Pam Bowers Managing Editor of CrossTalk , the Journal of Defense Software Engineering writes to the PMFORUM...
October 2003 Issue
"The October 2003 issue of CrossTalk, The Journal of Defense Software Engineering is now available on our Web site . This month we look at the challenges in managing increasing amounts of data in our theme "Information Sharing: The Challenge of Knowledge Transfer."
November 2003 Issue
"The November 2003 issue of CrossTalk, The Journal of Defense Software
Engineering is now available on our Web
site .This month our theme is "Development of Real-Time Software."
We examine the additional development requirements, testing, and maintenance
factors that come into play with the nature of this often life- or mission-critical
software".
"We hope that CrossTalk adds to your knowledge of developing real-time software, including the additional software requirements inherent in critical, real-time applications. Whether a beginner or a seasoned developer, these articles are intended to address the differences in non-real-time and real-time software that will help you and your team build and buy software better."
The General Administrative Office(GAO) of July 25 2003 Report GAO-03-751 recommends that the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Needs to Institutionalize Key IT Management Disciplines.
The full report is at [http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-03-751].
A report highlights pdf document is at http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d03751high.pdf
“The Acquisition Review Quarterly (ARQ) journal is a scholarly peer-reviewed journal published by the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). All submissions receive a blind review to ensure impartial evaluation. Submissions are welcome from anyone involved in the conceptualization, initiation, design, development, testing, contracting, production, deployment, logistic support, modification, and disposal of weapons and other systems, supplies, or services needed by the Department of Defense or intended for use to support military missions.–
Norene Fagan
Managing Editor, ARQ
Defense Acquisition University
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The ARQ is available electronically on the [DAU Home Page.]