White Papers

The Importance of Mentoring – Eric Perlstein

When I graduated college, one of the best insights my father ever provided me was to have a mentor throughout my professional development, but I did not take the time to appreciate his guidance. However, it did resonate with me and I have found myself remembering his advice often.I have learned that a mentoring relationship is a win-win for all involved: The employee who seeks a mentor and the mentor and organization that employ the pair. Here I will discuss why mentoring makes business sense, how to find mentoring, benefits from mentoring, and succeeding with mentoring.

DCMA 14-Point Assessment for Project Schedule Health – Brandon Bogle

While evaluating the schedule quality, during both planning and monitoring & controlling, it is important to make
assessments from a qualitative and a quantitative perspective. A quantitative assessment of schedule quality is based
on measurable criteria rooted in industry-defined scheduling best practices. To that end, the Defense Contract
Management Agency (DCMA) developed a set of health checks and guidelines collectively known as the DCMA
14-Point Assessment. These are not necessarily hard and fast rules, but more indicators of potential problem areas
where a deeper schedule analysis may be necessary. Here, we will examine each of the 14 points and why they are
critical for a healthy project schedule

How to Use Project Monitoring for Maximum Impact – Jonathan Porter

I love sailing. Being on the water. The fresh air. The comradery of working together with your friends against the
elements. However, to get to where you want to go, you don’t just set your sails, sit back, and do nothing. The wind
will blow you wherever it wants. No, you have to continually adjust the tiller for the proper heading, ease out or
sheet in your sails, and plan for when you have to cross the wind to get a better angle on your destination. Project
monitoring and control is no different.

Contoured Costs & Earned Value – Grading on a Curve – Mike Agnello

You plan your projects. Everything is baselined and seems identical. However, with Earned Value (EV), there is more to know than just simply baselining. You must understand the hidden costs that can trip up the best-laid plans.

Portfolio Management Process – The What, Why, and How – Patricia Bullington

The Project Portfolio Management Process and Governance guides organizations in analyzing, selecting, and managing a collection of investments that align with strategic objectives using a data driven decision-making framework.

BMPP and Microsoft Project to Conquer Planning and Scheduling – Robert Testerman

Robert Testerman, 2016 – To enhance project planning, Edwards has established a process called BMPP, which stands for Big Monster Piece of Paper. The BMPP method is a structured, top-down brainstorming approach to develop a detailed project work plan.