Conceptualizing, Planning and Executing a Post-course Project

What is a Project?A Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result.

• Every project has a definite beginning and end with specific objectives to be accomplished

• The duration of a project is finite• Characterized by progressive elaboration

Why Should I Do a Post-course Project?

Opportunity to extend your leadership growth beyond this 2-day course

• Opportunity to assume a leadership role on an important project at your agency or within your category PAC

• Opportunity to work on something that aligns with your interests and will take you beyond your current circle of responsibility and contacts

What Should I Do for my Post-course Project?

Examples of Post-course Projects from the 2011 MHS Female Physician Leadership Course: • Projects completed by PHS officers

• Women Public Health Service Officers Leading the Way (Development of this course)

• Coordination of analysis and dissemination of data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey Occupational Health Supplement

What Should I Do for my Post-course Project (cont.)?

Examples of Post-course Projects from the 2011 MHS Female Physician Leadership Course:

• Projects completed by officers from other services • Emergency Department Throughput Improvement• Development of the Graduate Medical Education and Research

Element of the New Naval Medical Research Center's Translational Research Office

• Otolaryngology Consultation Process: A Patient-Centered Focus

What Should I Do for my Post-course Project (cont. 2)?

Think about other projects that you or fellow officers have been involved in

• Develop a website• Develop a training session or training materials• Start a journal club• PHS recruiting activities

What Should I Do for myPost-course Project (cont. 3)?

Ask your leaders what needs to be done• Agency/ Operating Division Director or other senior manager• Chief Professional Officer/Professional Advisory Committee (PAC)

Chair (You can find links to each PAC website at: http://dcp.psc.gov/CCMIS/LinksofInterest.aspx#pacs)

• Any PHS Flag Officer• Clinic Director, if working in a clinical setting

How Do I get Started?Draft a plan • Identify partners/ collaborators• Identify objective endpoints• Identify project milestones/ develop timeline• Identify anticipated challenges/barriers

The “Triple” Constraint ofProject Management

Successful project management means meeting all three goals (scope, time, and cost) – and satisfying the project’s sponsor!

Projects reflect the result of balancing the triple constraint

Source: Information Technology Project Management, Fifth Edition

What are the Documentation Requirements?

• Submit 2 progress reports • October 31, 2012• January 31, 2013

• Final abstract summary • Due in the spring of 2013 • Will be judged on the criteria listed on the next slide• We plan to invite the authors of the best abstracts to share their

experiences implementing their projects at the 2013 COF Symposium

Evaluation Criteria1. Originality of the project2. Initiative on the part of the participant3. Leadership role of the participant in the implementation of

the project4. Extent to which the project took the participant outside of

her pre-existing circle of responsibility and contact5. Immediate impact of the project 6. Lasting impact of the project