Robbins-Gioia Helps PEO C3T Defog the Enterprise; Microsoft Project 2002 Implementation Will Provide Greater Visibility

Business Wire, Nov 13, 2002

Business Editors & Hi-Tech Writers

ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2002

The U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Command, Control, and Communications - Tactical (PEO C3T) has a huge job: to revolutionize the U.S. Army by applying state-of-the-art information technology to the modern battlefield.

The process started in 1994 with a series of advanced warfighter experiments. These efforts showed that digitization reduces the "fog of war" and decreases decision-making time by optimizing the flow of information.

Recently, the PEO C3T wisely realized it needed to lift some of the fog around its own processes to have greater visibility into the enterprise. PEO C3T leaders needed to see integrated information across the agency's various divisions/programs to enable them to track progress, variances, and potential impacts relative to key performance indicators.

But the PEO C3T faced some obstacles, including stove-piped program schedules, lack of common approach and reliable information, and scheduling tools inadequate to support increasing program volume. Luckily, the same pioneering culture that had envisioned the digitized battlefield decided to explore establishing a sustainable enterprise management solution using Microsoft Project 2002 (MSP 2002).

Robbins-Gioia, LLC, a prominent program management firm that has been at the PEO since the inception of digitization six years ago, offered to investigate the new tool and develop a demonstration to the PEO to show its capabilities. Early this fall, Robbins-Gioia's contract with the PEO was expanded to include MSP 2002 integration.

Susan Bopp, Robbins-Gioia associate account manager at Fort Monmouth, said the new tool will help engender enterprise management visibility. "The new capability will enable the PEO to not only provide a consistent read on the health of their engagements but also maximize management focus on the real challenges that effect program performance such as contractor performance, impacts of scope changes, and program risks and issues," she said. "With this capability in place, the PEO can make informed decisions using what-if scenarios and as a result better allocate the appropriate resources to mitigate delays and costly surprises."

The Robbins-Gioia approach to implementing an enterprise solution begins by understanding the requirements and right-sizing the solution based on its experience at the PEO by focusing on key needs first. R-G will work with the PEO team to track the effort as well as integrate current programs to begin establishing a sustainable enterprise management solution using MSP 2002.

"We are in the process of rolling out the first `must haves' into the PEO organization and thus far have received tremendous support and feedback on how these initial capabilities are paying off--both in saving time spent in chasing down data as well as providing critical and reliable management information," said Bopp.

"With the expansion of the current contract, Robbins-Gioia continues to be a key member of the PEO C3T," said Emerson Keslar, CIO, PEO C3T. "By helping us to leverage Microsoft Project 2002, we will have an integrated approach to support informed management decisions at all levels."

About Robbins-Gioia

Robbins-Gioia has been dedicated to delivering management consulting solutions to government agencies and Fortune 500 companies for 20 years.

Robbins-Gioia combines thought leadership, disciplined processes, industry-based knowledge, and integrated tools to help global customers optimize their business processes, accelerate change, and establish time, cost, and quality improvements to transform their businesses. For more information, please call Robbins-Gioia, LLC at 800-663-7138, or visit the web site at www.robbinsgioia.com.

About U.S. Army--Program Executive Office, Command, Control, and Communication--Tactical

The product and project managers and directors of the PEO C3T provide a wide and integrated array of systems, products, and capabilities designed to meet the needs of today's warfighter, while continuing to evolve to meet tomorrow's requirements. They encompass everything from tactical satellite communications and intelligence gathering systems to devices used by the combat soldier in the field.

For more information, visit www.monmouth.army.mil/newpages/vCpeoc3s.html.>

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