1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Five Fundamental Things You Need to
Know to Get Back to the Moon
APPEL PM Challenge Conference
APPEL PM Challenge Conference
February 2008
February 2008
Randy Humphries Jr.
Randy Humphries Jr.
NASA Glenn Research Center
NASA Glenn Research Center
www.nasa.gov
www.nasa.gov

2. Overview
Why is the Constellation Program a unique challenge?
Who am I?
A Foundation for Success
Fundamentals
Why important/benefit?
Action opportunities
Summary
Q and A
Do one thing different tomorrow
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 2

3. What Makes the Constellation Program Unique?
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 Station
Transportation to the Moon
Building 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
The First National Space Mandate Since Apollo
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 3

4. What Makes the Constellation Program Unique?
Team is distributed across the globe
Multiple cultures and subcultures
NASA Centers
Corporate - contractor
Regional
Operating in the public eye
Unique budget/financial approach
Time is important
Shuttle program ends in 2010
Historical public benefits
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 4

5. Who I Am—Professionally!
Glenn Research Center
Stennis Space Center
Stennis Space Center
NASA Headquarters
NASA Headquarters
Orion Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
International
Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center Space Station
Industry
Industry
Constellation
Fastrac Engine
Pluto New Horizons
Space Shuttle
Ares
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 5

6. A Foundation for Success
Fundamentals are:
Foundational
An essential component of the system or structure
Central
Fundamentals are:
Interconnected
All essential for success
Interrelated
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 6

7. Communicate
Fundamental #1
Definition
To convey information about; make known; impart
To reveal clearly; manifest
To have an interchange, as of ideas
To 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
— Requirements
Set expectations
— Roles and responsibilities
— Plans and possibilities
— Outcomes (what does
success look like?)
Influence
— Team
— Management
— Public
— Customer
Wasn’t part of our Engineering curriculum
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 7

8. Communicate
Oral Written Nonverbal
NOTHING replaces face-to-face communication
Honesty/integrity
Action opportunity
Take a communication class
Talk to your team about how
you (the team) communicate
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 8

9. Develop Project Management Skills
Fundamental #2
Project Management
The 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
Training + Experience = Knowledge
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 9

10. Develop Project Management Skills
Project Management Development is a continual process
Training
— 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/tapes
Coach/Mentor
Action opportunities
Schedule classes
Read a good self-help book
Expand your network
Get a mentor
Make time to improve your performance
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 10

11. People are Your Greatest Asset
Fundamental #3
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
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.
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 11

12. People are Your Greatest Asset
Apollo teaches of the human frailties that result from stress
Increased divorce rate
Sickly children
Heart attacks
Mental breakdown
Burnout
Don't forget the people
Them
You—Take care of yourself
Work with integrity and respect
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)
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 12

13. People are Your Greatest Asset
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
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 13

14. It Takes a Nation
Fundamental #4
Space Shuttle Program Supplier Geographical Distribution by State
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 14

15. It Takes a Nation
Culturally
Patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such
activities significance and importance.
NASA Centers and Headquarters
Numerous contractors and subcontractors
Regional
Talent pool distribution
Politically
A program of this magnitude requires National support
The program’s success must come before the desires of the
local organizations
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 15

16. It Takes a Nation
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
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 16

17. Success is spelled TEAM
Fundamental #5
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 relationship
Required for the existence of a team
Positive Working Relationships
Trust is fundamental to Team
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 17

18. Success is spelled TEAM
Action opportunities
Build teaming early
Establish norms early (respect, professionalism, etc.)
Build Trust
Set clear mission/objectives
Clarify 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
Take responsibility for building the Team
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 18

19. Five Fundamentals to Help us
Achieve a Permanent Presence on the Moon
Communicate
To your team
To your management
To stakeholders
Understand Project Management
Take a course
Get a Mentor
Don't forget the people
Them
You—Take care of yourself
It DOES take a Nation
Success is spelled TEAM
3/3/2008 PMC 2008 19