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