Defense Systems Management Corporation

 

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Courses

Our list of courses is shown below. In each case we are able to offer tailored services to the customer, and are able to provide thorough support services as required. We can also offer consulting arrangements in any of these areas as desired.

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
COST ESTIMATING
ONLINE COURSES
CUSTOM COURSES
BEST PRACTICES IN NEGOTIATION
PAST PERFORMANCE IN SOURCE SELECTION
PREDICTED EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION
PREPARATION OF A PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE BASED STATEMENT OF WORK
PERSONAL QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE THROUGH TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PROPOSAL EVALUATION
PURCHASING MANAGEMENT
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
SOFTWARE SURVEILLANCE EVALUATION
STRATEGIC, BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING
SYSTEMS ENGINEERING/MANAGEMENT
TEAM BUILDING
 


PERSONAL QUEST FOR EXCELLENCE THROUGH TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

A three part program that is designed to provide all elements necessary to implement Total Quality Management into an organization or at any level of an organization.

Part I INTRODUCTION FOR TOP MANAGEMENT

This two to three day course provides top management with an overview of the historical background of this management technique, its methodologies and tools, and application of the techniques to current problems and opportunities. At the conclusion of this part, the firm or organizational element has an adequate understanding of the concepts of TQM, the vocabulary and realistic expectations. The top management will develop a strategic plan, and interim goals and objectives for their organization. These can be applied or acted on in the other parts of the program.

Part II TRAIN THE TRAINERS

This one week course is for the persons who will participate in the executive steering committee and process action teams. This part will provide an in-depth coverage of techniques and methodologies ranging from: how to select areas for improvement, problem and opportunity definition, data collection and analysis, alternative creation and selection, and development and implementation of practical solutions to problems.

Part III PROCESS ACTION TEAMS

This two day course is designed to enable multi-organizational groups to quickly begin to work well together, and to develop improved solutions to their assigned problems. It provides an introduction to group methods and techniques. A step-by step tailorable format is provided so that proper records can be maintained, and effective efficient procedures utilized.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Version 1 Oriented towards Department of Defense vocabulary and procedures.

This is nominally a two week course, but can be presented in as little as one week, course is designed for project managers and those functional elements who are supporting project managers so that they all may gain an understanding of the life cycle, budgetary, business and technical management techniques used by the DOD. This course provides in depth understanding of the development of system specifications from a mission need statement, the various phases of a project and how projects need to be managed differently in these phases, the process of soliciting proposals, evaluation and negotiation, award and contract administration including changes. The course includes discussion of the processes for obtaining the different types of funds and limitations in using these funds. Materials include DODD 5000.1, DODI 5000.2 and DOD 5000.2-M. This course is equivalent to ACQ 101-Fundamentals of System Acquisition Management

Version 2 Oriented towards non-defense projects.

This two week course is designed for project managers and those supporting them so that they may gain an understanding of modern practices. Principles, tools and techniques used in operating a multi-organizational team in a cross-functional manner to accomplish an expensive, risky and important tasks within strict cost, schedule and performance boundaries. The course is based upon the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) used by the Project Management Institute in its certification program. Extensive use of integrative and supporting cases makes this a very practical course. Materials provided include the PMBOK and student materials, including cases and worksheets.

PURCHASING MANAGEMENT

This one week course is designed to develop a purchasing operations manual for a firm, or to build on the existing one, and to provide personnel with the skills to implement it correctly. The course will cover development of requirements, cost estimating, preparation of solicitations, evaluation of proposals, negotiation, award of contracts, changes, and close out of contracts. In addition coverage will be given to managing the purchasing office and development of personnel.

Specific items in the course are:

 

  1. Preparation of a statement of work. Performance specifications for both hardware and services are covered. Problems in SOW preparation and interpretation are covered.
  2. Preparation of a solicitation. Keys to organizing and integrating the solicitation documents are provided.
  3. Preparation of an evaluation plan to allow the selection of the best value proposal. Including price or cost analysis of proposals.
  4. Contract administration including pricing changes during the administration of the contract.
  5. Close out of contracts



STRATEGIC BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL PLANNING

This course will enable a firm or organization to develop plans that allow the successful accomplishment of the mission and vision goals. Skills in developing planning statements, the performance measurement techniques necessary to monitor performance, and assessment techniques to determine whether a change in the plan or the goal is necessary. Tools in selecting financial approaches, comparing different alternatives, and analyzing different time frame outcomes will be covered. Use of these plans as continually evolving statement is stressed. Participants will gain access to major comparative and historical data bases so that they may best develop their plans and strategies. This plan will include development of performance measurement procedures and control strategies.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION

This three day course covers the development of an evaluation plan, the different types of evaluation ranging from in-house "red teams" to large source selection boards. Methods of evaluating and scoring proposals will be covered. Developing objective and supportable source recommendations is a matter of importance in effective materials and services purchasing. The class will conclude with a critiqued exercise in developing an evaluation plan and the evaluation and selection of the best proposal for a requirement.

PAST PERFORMANCE IN SOURCE SELECTION

This two day course is presented by the National Contract Management Association. It is based on recent changes in the Federal policy in source selection and addresses use of past performance as a dominant factor in source selection, It provides training in development of s past performance data base, analysis of past performance data, and avoidance of problems in implementation.

TEAM BUILDING

This two day course focuses on the bringing together of different people to work in new and unusual circumstances, where successful accomplishment is important in this competitive environment, and where failure can mean loss in the business place. Three major skills are stressed: Awareness of personality difference as a major determinant in team activity; effective listening as a significant tool for avoiding conflict and quickly developing the optimum solution; and meeting management for the most effective array of organizational resources of time and personnel. This course can be supplemented with either the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or the Success Style Profile (much more in depth than MBTI) our faculty are certified administrators of both instruments.

PREDICTED EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION

This three day course is one step beyond the more normal oral presentation course. In addition to providing skills in listening thinking and speaking, this course also covers a heightened awareness of personality difference as a filter on communication, and how recognizing these differences even while presenting can provide time in which to successfully adapt. The importance of graphics in both form and color is stressed. Also covered is the development of the "ideal presentation facility and its control"

Use of video evaluations makes this an effective course, but restrict the size of the class to 12 or less.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

This two day course covers several aspects of this significant new area. A basic awareness of definitions, and perceptions is discussed and tested; the legal implications of sexual harassment claims are covered from both a preventive and corrective perspective.

COST ESTIMATING

This three day workshop covers the development of data bases, the use of major estimating tools such as historical; extrapolation from historical; parametric; analog, and guessing. Verification of estimates as done both internally and by auditors. The development of an approved estimating system is covered. Extensive use of computers is involved in this course, and participants will receive a software library for their personal use and retention.

A special course addressing "Software Cost Estimating" is also available.

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

A one week course in the development of Configuration Items, including managerial inputs into this activity; Configuration Status, Configuration Control, and Configuration Audit are covered. This is a very practical course designed for configuration managers and persons serving on configuration control boards. Modern techniques of control including CALS are covered.

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING/MANAGEMENT

A one week course covering this "rediscovered" engineering specialty. The material is approached first from a top down point of view focusing first on mission need statements, functional analysis and functional allocation (resulting in a Systems Specification), requirements analysis and requirements allocation (resulting in a Performance Specification and a Work Breakdown Structure), trade off analysis and development (resulting in a Product Specification). The relationship of specifications requirements to test requirements is covered. In a second part of the course an organized approach to planning for production is addressed. This plan is designed to assure consideration of all engineering concerns in this process. In the third part of this course evaluation of performance and management is covered. Students will receive an extensive library of systems engineering management texts and documentation as well as a desk-top model demonstrating the interrelationship of SEM principles. Plus students will be able to access the faculty through AOL for questions raised during actual applications of covered materials.

[Fulfills the requirements for SYS 201]

PREPARATION OF A PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE BASED STATEMENT OF WORK

A two day course designed to provide skills in planning, organizing and writing a statement of work that is fair, describes the minimum requirement and permits maximum competition. Discussion of avoiding "vague and ambiguous terms" is provided. Extensive use of critiqued caselets provides for correct understanding and increases readiness to apply skills upon return to work. Uses latest procedures involving performance based statements of work.

A separate course for "service" statements of work is available.

SOFTWARE SURVEILLANCE EVALUATION

A one week course designed to allow the requirer to assess performance of a software development contract. Includes detailed procedures for development of a surveillance plan, metrics, and cost and schedule measurements. Course is based on lecture discussion and utilizes a major program case to demonstrate various learning points. Can be designed to allow participation of the contractor as well.

BEST PRACTICES IN NEGOTIATION

This two day course is a "how to" course designed for beginners or for medium skill level negotiators, who wish to broaden their skills. It includes discussion of theories of negotiation, principles of effective negotiation, development of strategies, and selection of tactics. It is based on lecture discussion and extensive use of critiqued cases. The course is sponsored as a national course by the National Contract Management Association.


CUSTOM COURSES

We also have the ability to develop a course for presentation by the client or others. An example of this is "ZAPPED" a course on employee empowerment that was developed and provided to the client as a turnkey project. Materials provided included lesson materials for the students, teaching notes for the instructor, a video, the text, viewgraphs and camera ready copy for student notebook reproduction.

 

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