1. NPR 7120.5 E PM and SRB Handbooks-
The Bridge Between Policy and
Implementation
Michael Blythe
NESC Deputy Director for Safety
James N. Ortiz, PhD
Director, Independent Program Assessment Office
PM Challenge
February 22-23, 2012
2. Introduction
• The current version of NPR 7120.5 has been streamlined to the
core essential requirements with the implementation guidance
now contained in a new NASA Program and Project
Management Handbook and an updated version of the
Standing Review Management (SRB) Handbook.
• This talk is intended to familiarize the project management
community with the purpose, current status, and future plans
for these handbooks
2
3. NPR 7120.5 Space Flight Program
and Project Management
Handbook
Status and Future Plans
Michael Blythe
4. Purpose of the PM Handbook
• The PM Handbook is a guidance document
– Provides additional information and rationale to support the content of
NPR 7120.5E which has been streamlined to mainly capture
requirements
– Provides guidelines and best practices for performing program/project
management activities to satisfy the requirements in NPR 7120.5E.
– Provides practical examples of successful approaches currently in use
(i.e., how to establish and maintain baselines)
• The intended audience ranges from experienced practitioners
to individuals just starting in space flight program and project
management
• The PM Handbook is applicable to all NASA space flight
programs and projects
4
5. Suite of 7120.5 Documents Overview
• The PM Handbook complements NPR 7120.5
– An interim version of the PM Handbook is posted on the “Other Policy”
tab in NODIS under the OCE menu that provides additional detail to help
with implementing the requirements of the NID to NPR 7120.5D, which
is current Agency policy posted in NODIS.
– An updated version of the Interim PM Handbook will be posted to the
OCE and the PM Communities of Practice shortly after the revised NPR
7120.5E goes into NODIS for Agency review. This draft of the handbook is
updated to support NPR 7120.5E.
– This interim handbook will be replaced once the build out of the
comprehensive PM Handbook has been completed.
• NPR 7120.5E is also supported by a suite of other handbooks,
primarily the Standing Review Board Handbook, but including other
handbooks posted on the OCE tab in NODIS.
5
6. Current Status
• Managed by OCE. A team has been formed to oversee the
development of the handbook
– Team meets weekly to discuss progress and resolve issues
• Table of Contents has been generated and topics to develop
have been prioritized
– Initial writing assignments have been made and writing is in progress
• Team is identifying existing supporting materials that the
handbook will point to (i.e. SRB Handbook)
6
7. PM Handbook Contents (Draft)
• Preface • Special Topics
• Introduction – Baseline Policy
• High-level Overview • Baseline
– Governance • Rebaseline vs Replan and Triggers
– Overview of Management processes • UFE
– Budget Process and Timing • JCL
• Programs and Projects • Commitments (ABC, Management
– Intro: types Agreement)
– Program and Project Life Cycles by Type • Decision Memorandum
– Life Cycle Phases – SRB process
• Control plans – Other Reviews
• Implications of Different P/p types
• Schedule
– Budget process
• Life Cycle Cost – Commercial
• Overview Baselining – More on program and project oversight
• Launch/Flight Reviews and approval
• Program and Project Governance and – Reporting Requirements
Authority – SI Metrics Analysis
– Governance – Center Reimbursable Space flight Work
– Technical Authority – Technology Develop to Space Flight
– Dissenting Opinion – Threat Protection
– Tailoring and Authority
7
8. PM Handbook Flow
• The PM Handbook content flow follows NPR 7120.5E’s
structure
• Particular emphasis is on
– Background for why the process or system evolved to what it is, it’s
purpose.
– Requirements rationale
– Explanation of and products required for each phase
– Successful examples of how to implement each phase
8
9. Sample of Topics
• Formulation Agreement
• Expected Maturity State and Product Maturity
• Confidence Level (CL) and Joint Confidence Level (JCL)
• Technical Authority and Dissenting Opinions in a Multi-Center
environment
• Tailoring
• Preparing for a KDP
• Baseline
• Project Reporting
• Commercial Providers
• Others??
– Your suggestions for additional Special Topics are welcome
• Send to michael.p.blythe@nasa.gov
9
10. Future Plans
• Prioritize additional topics to be written
• FAQs posted to NEN site (NEN Program/Project Management
Community of Practice (NEN PPM CoP) -
https://nen.nasa.gov/web/pm/7120.5d-background
– Your suggestions for additional FAQs are welcome
• Assign additional topics and produce standalone white papers to be
posted on PM NEN site for use until Handbook is complete
• Target dates for PM Handbook:
– First draft out with release of NPR 7120.5E
– Red team review (includes current practitioners)
– Release final draft 2 months after NPR 7120.5E release
– Publish 4 months after NPR 7120.5E release
• Handbook will NOT go through NODIS process, but instead through
the STI process where it will become a NASA Special Publication
(SP) document
10
11. 7120.5E Schedule
Jun 11 Jul 11 Aug 11 Sep 11 Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Jun 12
NID Update and Draft Handbook NPR Revision E and Handbook
NID NODIS Red Team Union Initiate NPR NODIS
Released Review Review NODIS Release
Cycle
NID
7120.5 NPR
(NID 7120-97) 7120.5E
NPR Draft
7120.5 PM
Interim
PM Handbook
(Initial Rev E Handbook STI process -
Draft) Special
Publication (SP)
Draft
NID = NASA Interim Directive SRB SRB
NPR = NASA Procedural Requirement Handbook Handbook
PM = Program and Project Management (Update)
SRB = Standing Review Board
Handbooks and other 7120.5 related material available on the NEN PPM CoP
12. Summary
• Currently the handbook is in an early phase of development
• The first draft of the comprehensive PM Handbook will be
consistent and align with NPR 7120.5E as it emerges from the
NODIS review
– The current schedule estimate for the release of NPR 7120.5E is
summer of 2012
12
13. Standing Review Board Handbook
and Processes –
Status and Future Plans
James N. Ortiz, Ph.D.
Director, Independent Program Assessment Office
14. Function of the SRB Handbook
• The SRB Handbook is a guidance document
– Provides guidelines and best practices for conducting reviews of Programs and projects to
satisfy the requirements in NID 7120-97 and guidance in the PM Handbook.
– Provides the structure to ensure mandatory compliance to avoid Personal and
Organizational Conflict of Interest (PCI/OCI) in the establishment and operation of the SRB
and to address the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
• Contractor
• Civil Servant
– Identifies the three board structures and how these are required to operate and report.
• The SRB Handbook guidance is applicable to all NASA Program and Project
reviews
– Those led by the IPAO, Programs, CAT 1 and CAT2 (LCC > $250M).
– Those led by the Centers, CAT 2 (LCC < $250M) and CAT 3
– Used by Program/project Managers as a reference
14
15. SRB Handbook
• Initial version published on
December 2009 aligned with NPR
7120.5D
• Updated in draft form to align
with recent NID 7120-97 and
draft PM Handbook
• Provides expanded guidance to
include changes discussed in this
briefing
• Rev A will be reviewed and
published along with NPR
7120.5E and PM Handbook
• Content regarding Conflict of
Interest (COI) has not changed
• Posted on NODIS linked to the
NPR 7120.5 D NID and at the IPAO
Web site at:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipce/ip
ao/library/index.html
15
18. SRB Handbook Flow
• The SRB Handbook content flow follows the Life
Cycle Review phases
– Particular emphasis is on the preparing, conducting and
reporting phases.
• This flow follows the fundamental timeline for the
conduct of Life Cycle Review activities
18
20. Changes in the SRB Handbook Rev A
• Guidance added on the use of the 1-step and 2-step review
processes
• Defines the Standard Terms of Reference (ToR)
– SRB Handbook contains the ToR template
• Reflects the updates to Convening Authority (CA) approvals
in the PM Handbook
• Guidance added on SRB Composition and Balance for
consistency with the PM Handbook
20
21. Changes in the SRB Handbook Rev A (Cont)
• Readiness Assessment process reflects the current practice
• “Discussion” of the status of the project relative to the entry
criteria and success criteria
• SRB assessment criteria use the expected maturity states
specified in the NID and PM Handbook
• SRB structure options updated to reflect the guidance in the
PM Handbook
• The PIR review criteria removed
• The PIR review is conducted like any other Life Cycle Review
21
22. Changes in the SRB Handbook Rev A (Cont)
• Other changes
• Late Life Cycle Reviews section added
• Special Reviews section added
• Checkpoints section added
• New nomenclature integrated
– Snapshot Report
22
23. Summary
• Currently at an intermediate step in the revision process
• The SRB Handbook will be updated as needed for
consistency and alignment with NPR 7120.5E and the final
PM Handbook
– The current schedule estimate for the release of NPR 7120.5E is early
summer of 2012
• The latest SRB Handbook is on the IPAO Website at:
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipce/ipao/index.html
23
