Five Fundamental Things You Need to Know to Get Back to the Moon

APPEL PM Challenge ConferenceFebruary 2008

Randy Humphries Jr.NASA Glenn Research Center

Five Fundamental Things You Need to Know to Get Back to the Moon

APPEL PM Challenge ConferenceFebruary 2008

Randy Humphries Jr.NASA Glenn Research Center

National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationNational Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.govwww.nasa.gov

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Why is the Constellation Program a unique challenge?

Who am I?

A Foundation for SuccessFundamentalsWhy important/benefit?Action opportunities

Summary

Q and A

Overview

Do one thing different tomorrow

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What Makes the Constellation Program Unique?

The First National Space Mandate Since Apollo

Implementing projects of national and international importance offer challenges not encountered by most project managers

Achieving Constellation Program goals will require designing, developing and building a spacecraft system that provides:

Access to the International Space StationTransportation to the MoonBuilding a living environment on another heavenly body

Requires a mastery of program and project management skills seldom matched in history

Musters skills of the nation

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What Makes the Constellation Program Unique?

Team is distributed across the globe

Multiple cultures and subcultures NASA CentersCorporate - contractorRegional

Operating in the public eye

Unique budget/financial approach

Time is importantShuttle program ends in 2010

Historical public benefits

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Who I Am—Professionally!

Space Shuttle

InternationalSpace Station

Constellation

Ares

Pluto New Horizons

Orion

Fastrac Engine

Glenn Research CenterStennis Space CenterNASA Headquarters

Kennedy Space CenterMarshall Space Flight Center

Industry

Glenn Research CenterStennis Space CenterNASA Headquarters

Kennedy Space CenterMarshall Space Flight Center

Industry

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A Foundation for Success

Fundamentals are:FoundationalAn essential component of the system or structureCentral

Fundamentals are:InterconnectedAll essential for successInterrelated

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DefinitionTo convey information about; make known; impartTo reveal clearly; manifestTo have an interchange, as of ideasTo express oneself in such a way that one is readily and clearly understood To be connected, one with another

Why is it so important?Transmission of data

—RequirementsSet expectations

—Roles and responsibilities—Plans and possibilities—Outcomes (what does

success look like?)Influence

—Team—Management—Public—Customer

Communicate

Wasn’t part of our Engineering curriculum

Fundamental #1

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Communicate

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Oral Written Nonverbal

NOTHING replaces face-to-face communicationHonesty/integrityAction opportunity

Take a communication classTalk to your team about howyou (the team) communicate

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Develop Project Management Skills

Training + Experience = Knowledge

Project ManagementThe discipline of organizing and managing resources (e.g. people) in such a way that the project is completed within defined scope, quality, time and cost constraints

An endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service, which brings about beneficial change or added value

Why is it so important?Technical tools for managing and executing projects

—Proven methodologies for managing cost, schedule and risk—Standard practices

• NASA Program and Project Management Process and Requirements – NPR7120.5D or 7120.8

—Useful strategies and Tactics

Central planning/communication vehicle

Lessons learned from similar experiences in relevant environment

Fundamental #2

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Develop Project Management Skills

Make time to improve your performance

Project Management Development is a continual processTraining

—NASA Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership (APPEL)—PPMI—Military—Other courses (get your 80 hours++)

Experiences—Research—Development—Operations

Network—Classes—Other Project Managers

Books/tapesCoach/Mentor

Action opportunitiesSchedule classes Read a good self-help bookExpand your networkGet a mentor

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Execution of programs and projects is performed by human beings

The richness of which is our creativity, spirit, diversity, and ability to persevere through adversity

Our personalities and family/personal lives offer person-unique situations and interesting circumstances to the workplace

—Do you have a risk management plan?—Does it address absences or reduced productivity due to

deaths, emotional issues, medical problems, etc?

The achievement of a goal or set of objectives (project) results from performance

Peak performance is achieved through maximum individual effort and optimum team dynamic

People are Your Greatest Asset

Emotional Intelligence (EI), describes an ability, capacity, or skill to perceive, assess, and manage the emotions of one's self, of others, and of groups.

Fundamental #3

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Apollo teaches of the human frailties that result from stressIncreased divorce rateSickly childrenHeart attacksMental breakdownBurnout

Don't forget the peopleThemYou—Take care of yourself

Work with integrity and respect

People are Your Greatest Asset

It is my opinion that the life generated by the Space Program was basically unhealthy for the families of space personnel....

Dr. Ronald C. Erbs of Titusville (during the Apollo program)

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Action opportunities

Get to know yourself and how you react to stress

Watch others close to you (protect each other)

Take your vacations/leave

Take a stress course

Exercise

Visit your workplace Employee Assistance Program counselor

People are Your Greatest Asset

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It Takes a NationFundamental #4

Space Shuttle Program Supplier Geographical Distribution by State

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It Takes a Nation

CulturallyPatterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give suchactivities significance and importance.

NASA Centers and Headquarters

Numerous contractors and subcontractors

Regional

Talent pool distribution

PoliticallyA program of this magnitude requires National support

The program’s success must come before the desires of the local organizations

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Action opportunities

Take time to understand and appreciate the cultural drivers of your teammates at other centers/companies

Read a history book on Apollo, Shuttle, or Station

Visit a NASA center or contractor you have never visited— Have dinner with them

Write down the 5 strengths of each of your closest program/project partners

It Takes a Nation

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Team: a group of people linked in a common purpose

Success: achievement of an objective/goal

Constellation is the largest challenge the Space community has ever undertaken

Trust is the fundamental unit of ANY relationshipRequired for the existence of a team

Positive Working Relationships

Success is spelled TEAM

Trust is fundamental to Team

Fundamental #5

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Action opportunities

Build teaming earlyEstablish norms early (respect, professionalism, etc.)Build TrustSet clear mission/objectivesClarify roles and responsibilities Communicate, communicate, communicate

Look for and find common ground

Resolve conflict quickly— Disagree yet not Disrespect

Honor cultures

Make your contractor/government partner a success —Will assure project success

Success is spelled TEAM

Take responsibility for building the Team

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CommunicateTo your teamTo your managementTo stakeholders

Understand Project ManagementTake a courseGet a Mentor

Don't forget the peopleThemYou—Take care of yourself

It DOES take a Nation

Success is spelled TEAM

Five Fundamentals to Help usAchieve a Permanent Presence on the Moon