2 research outputs found
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Evolution of project planning tools in a matrix organization
Until recently, the Corporate Construction Program at Sandia was experiencing difficulties in managing projects: poor planning and cost estimating caused schedule and budget problems. The first step taken was a Microsoft {reg_sign} Project schedule that provides a standard template for scheduling individual construction projects. It is broken down according to the life cycle of the project and prevents the project team from leaving out an important item. A WBS (work breakdown structure) dictionary was also developed that describes how capital and operating funds are used to develop, design, construct, equip, and manage projects. We also developed a matrix chart that maps the planning guide against the major types of construction projects at Sandia. The guide, dictionary, and matrix chart offer enough flexibility that the project manager can make choices about how to structure work, yet ensure that all work rolls up to the cost categories and key DOE WBS elements. As requirements change, the tools can be updated; they also serve as training tools for new project team members
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Communicating in a multi-project environment with a single-sheet project plan
In June 1992, the Corporate Construction Program Office was formed to provide single-point accountability for managing all corporate-sponsored construction projects at Sandia, answering to upper Sandia management as well as Sandia`s primary external customer, the U.S. DOE. CCPO had 3 major areas of responsibility: Congressional line-item projects (>2 million), and corporate-funded major rearrangements (renovations). A single-sheet project plan (``summary sheet``), with monthly updates, was developed for every project. Each month, the sheets are duplicated and placed in a ``project summary book`` that is distributed through various communication channels at Sandia. Despite many modifications, the summary sheet has remained simple and useful to a broad range of project stakeholders. This paper describes how the sheet`s design and implementation enhances communication across Sandia`s complex, multi-program environment