Acquisition and Logistics Excellence: DAU's New PMT-401 — A Systems Approach to Program Manager Development - Program Management - Defense Acquisitions University

Program Manager, Sept-Oct, 2001 by Brig. Gen. Edward Hirsch

The Defense Systems Management College, the premier College in the Department of Defense dedicated to the professional development, education, and training of members of the Program Management career field, is striving to support Under Secretary Aldridge's theme of Acquisition and Logistics Excellence. Most notably the current education and training requirements for members of the Program Management career field are being changed to accord with a systems approach that recognizes Program Management as a career track that demands a career-Long commitment to learning. The former Program Management career track had evolved over time, responded to changing requirements, and presented students with increasingly complex issues to resolve as they progressed from Level I through Level II and ultimately to Level III certification.

The future Program Management career track identifies and builds upon lessons learned from the former Program Management track and relies upon new courses that are designed from the outset to create a career-long learning experience. Each new course is designed to be dependent upon the learning derived from the previous course and is preparation for the learning expectations of the next course.

Important New Steps

Under the new systems approach, students who complete the Intermediate Systems Acquisition Course (ACQ-201) will continue Level II certification with the newly activated Program Management Tools Course (PMT-250). However, a significant change occurs in achieving the Level III certification, which is dependent upon satisfactory completion of the new Program Management Office Course (PMT-352). Following completion of those courses, certain students are selected for PMT 401, the Program Manager's Course (PMC)--based on past performance and future potential -- to continue their training with the new Program Manager's Course.

The new Program Management career track differentiates between personnel who have demonstrated capabilities as acquisition leaders and do not aspire to be program managers of Acquisition Category (ACAT I or II) programs, and those that seek these positions and have been selected by their Service as being potential candidates for these positions.

The chart at the bottom of the next page highlights the differences between the former Program Management career track and the new Program Management career track.

The New Program Manager's Course, PMT-401

The Program Manager's Course is an intense, executive-level, highly integrated 10-week, case study-based learning experience. Most importantly, the case study approach that will be used in PMT-401 accurately develops the critical thinking skills necessary to lead major ACAT programs. Learners will actively participate in two to three case studies every day, and be required to devote two to three hours of study every evening in preparation for the next day's classes. The case studies are presented by a specially selected teaching team of senior faculty members who will use a variety of learning methodologies, including role playing, simulations, distinguished guest practitioners, team projects, study groups, and an elective feature designed to enable learners to customize a portion of the course to meet specific needs.

Time will be available to internalize the material through independent study and informal work and interaction with peers through small group discussions. Course content will rely upon challenges, problems, and dilemmas derived from extensive interviews with program managers, program executive officers, and other stakeholders. The case-based dilemmas will be those that course graduates can expect to confront when they return to their workplace.

Objectives

Graduates will be able to:

* Apply critical thinking when confronted by problems and dilemmas on a day-to-day basis.

* Lead and integrate disparate functional groups and develop a cohesive team capable of coping with the complex problems that are common to program management and program executive offices.

* Identify and apply best business practices to achieve win-win relationships with their industry partners.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed expressly for specially selected, Level III-certified members of the acquisition workforce motivated to, and capable of, becoming the DoD senior acquisition leaders of the future. Attendees must be 0-5/GS-14 or above with extensive experience in acquisition, including four years in a Program Management Office or in direct support of a Program Management Office.

"The challenges and problems that program managers, program executive officers, and other stakeholders in the defense acquisition community have encountered or expect to encounter in their conduct of business -- properly emulated in the classroom -- can provide the basis for a profound, practical learning experience," says Stephen Israel, who is responsible for the design, development, and production of the course.

About the Case Method

He notes that many of the leading universities that have offered executive development programs over the past 50 years have used the case method to provide such learning. Their experience has established as fact that a course based on the case method can provide students with the opportunity to consider, analyze, and discuss the kinds of challenges and problems they can expect to face in their future assignments -- and do so in a challenging and risk-free environment.