Snow Chain-Integrated Tire for a Safe Drive on Winter Roads
Luat nguyen
1. Tailoring NASA Requirements
to Fit the Project
Luat Nguyen and Keith Boadway
NASA Project Management (PM) Challenge 2012
February 2012
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2. Background
• A LaRC team, chartered by the Deputy Center Director,
developed guidelines for tailoring the application of
Project Management and Systems Engineering NPRs
(7120.5, 7123.1)
• These guidelines are intended to help us use the NPRs
to execute the full range of flight projects more efficiently
and effectively
• First baseline is released, however, plan is to continue to
revise and update (e.g., update to NPR7120.5E)
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3. Background
• As a research, technology, and development Center, LaRC has a
history of conducting flight projects ranging in scope from major to
quite small
• The scope of the projects as exemplified by their Life Cycle Cost
(LCC) ranges from a few million dollars to over one billion dollars and
covers all Agency Mission Directorates
• LaRC is organized to effectively execute this wide range of projects
– Flight Projects Directorate (FPD) focused on project execution and development
and nurturing of associated capabilities
– FPD has a “Small Projects Office” focused on effective execution of “small
projects”
• “Small Project” designation determined by consideration of a project’s
scope, complexity, criticality, and visibility
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4. Tailoring of Requirements
Project
A “Ideal”
“Ideal” Tailoring
“Actual”
Tailoring
NPR
7120.5
7123.1
Project
C
“ad hoc”
Tailoring
Guidelines
Project
B
“Ideal”
Tailoring Project
Guidelines C
“Ideal”
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5. NPR Procedural Requirements
Tailoring Team
• Objective: Develop guidelines to support
effective / efficient tailoring of NPR
requirements (7120.5, 7123.1, …) for LaRC
flight projects with emphasis on “lean” and
“affordability.”
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6. NPR 7120.5 Requirements for Tailoring
Requirements from Chapter 4 of NPR 7120.5D
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9. Tailoring Definitions
Tailoring Term Definition
The requirement is expected/required for this type of
Blank/Empty
mission.
Decrease the level of detail, formality, and rigor
required based on the project’s size, complexity, and
Tailor Down
acceptable risk or the requirement may be
captured/met by the fulfillment of another requirement.
Seek relief from the requirement based on the project’s
Tailor Out size, complexity, and acceptable risk. This may require
a waiver.
Not applicable. The requirement is not relevant to the
N/A
project type.
The intent of the requirement can be met and
Proj. Plan
documented within the project plan.
Used to identify the recommended level of decision
HQ/Center
authority.
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10. Tailoring Overview – Page 1 of 2
Management Requirements (Taken from Chapter 4 NPR 7120.5D, NASA Space Flight Program and Project)
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11. Tailoring Overview – Page 2 of 2
Management Requirements (Taken from Chapter 4 NPR 7120.5D, NASA Space Flight Program and Project
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12. Tailoring Approach
• Tailoring approach consists of 4 elements
1. Top level matrix of tailoring guidelines (e.g. “tailor down”,
“tailor out”, etc.)
2. Additional details (several sentences) for each guideline
(each element of the matrix)
3. Representative examples for each guideline
4. Advisory teams to provide guidance and advice on specific
application to a project
• The tailoring process for a given project will be
documented early in the project life cycle (e.g.
draft Project Plan) and approved
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17. Tailoring Guidelines (Excel worksheet)
• Guidelines are defined for each Type (filters allow choice of display/print)
• Types • Products • Tailoring • Guidelines • Examples • Advisors
• Filters
Click
Filter Icon
Select desired
mission types
(1 or more)
Click OK
button
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18. NPR 7123.1A Systems Engineering
• Applied the same tailoring approach to
two of the NPR’s primary products
– Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP)
– Technical Reviews
• Technical reviews provide a lifecycle view
of the project’s engineering and
management products
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19. NPR 7123.1A - SEMP
• SEMP applicability is captured in the NPR7120.5D tailoring
• NPR 7123.1A, Appendix F allows adaptation of the processes according to the
purpose, complexity, and scope of the program or project
• LPR 7123.1 – LaRC Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements
(describes responsibilities and DGA for the SEMP based on project types)
• Tailored SEMP must be approved by the Designated Governing Authority (DGA)
Type A Type B Type C Type D Type E Type F
CMC Chair Approves Approves
Chief Engineer Reviews Reviews Approves Approves Approves
Program, Project, or
Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs
Task Manager
Engineering Director Reviews Reviews Reviews Reviews Reviews Approves
Systems
Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares
Engineering Team
Table 1-1 Responsibilities for the SEMP or alternative documentation of systems engineering implementation
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20. NPR 7123.1A – Technical Reviews
• Apply tailoring concept to Technical Reviews
– Tailoring overview summary identifies which reviews are recommended
based on mission Types
• Tailoring guidelines are based on:
– Products from Technical Review entrance and success criteria
(NPR 7123.1A, Appendix G)
– Expected product maturity (preliminary, baseline, updates)
(NPR 7120.5D, Tables 4-3 & 4-4)
– Product traceability to both NPR 7123.1A and NPR 7120.5D
• Some products are identified in both NPRs while some products are
just identified in one of the NPRs
• Tailoring guidelines documented in a separate worksheet with
filters to select the desired technical reviews and project types
• Provides guidance for Review Plans and ToRs
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23. Technical Reviews – Summary View Example
Summary Which technical reviews are recommended for type D?
View
2 Primary Filters
(Review, Type)
Selected
Review =
Color Yellow
and
Type = D
Click OK
button
Select
worksheets
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24. Technical Reviews – Detailed View Example
Detailed What products are identified for MCR and mission type D?
View
2 Primary Filters
(Review, Type)
Selected
Review = b. MCR
and
Type = D
Displays products
associated with the
selected review and
mission type
Green text identifies
{
items directly tied to
NPR7123.1A criteria
Yellow background
shows first time
product is identified
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25. Technical Reviews – NPR 7123 View Example
NPR 7123 What NPR7123 related products are identified for MCR and type D?
View
3 Primary Filters
(Review, Type, Product)
Selected
Review = b. MCR
and
Type = D
and
Product = color green
Displays only
products associated
with the selected
review, type, and
NPR7123 criteria
{
Green text identifies
items directly tied to
NPR7123.1A criteria
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26. Technical Reviews – Search View Example
Search
What MCR products for type D involve guidelines on cost?
View
3 Primary Filters
(Review, Type,
Guidelines)
Selected
Review = b. MCR
and
Type = D
and
Guidelines = Text
Filters contains…
= cost
Displays only
products associated
with the selected
review, type, and
have the word cost
in the guidelines
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27. Technical Reviews – Product View Example
Product How does the SEMP for type D mature through the lifecycle?
View
3 Primary Filters
(Review, Type, Product)
Selected
Review = Select All
and
Type = D
and
Review/Product =
SEMP (spelled out)
Displays selected
product and guidelines
associated with reviews
and selected type
Gray background shows
reviews that were
tailored out or N/A for
selected type
Green text shows when
product is directly tied to
NPR7123.1A criteria
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29. Summary
• LaRC developed the tailoring guidelines to help
flight projects apply the NPRs 7120.5D and
7123.1A to get the most benefit for their particular
situation
• These tailoring guidelines are intended to provide
a good starting point, and combined with
examples and expert advisors, should allow for
quick convergence on the “right fit”
• Status
– Applying to new/existing projects (IRVE-3 [Type E] and
SAGE III/ISS [Type C]) and (MISSE-X [Type D])
– Developing training options to increase awareness and use
at LaRC (e.g. WebEX, video)
– First baseline is released, however, plan is to continue to
revise and update (e.g., update to NPR7120.5E)
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Editor's Notes
Edit note: Made 1st bullet past tense and changed 3rd bulletNote: Chartered by the Deputy Center Director – Steve Jurczyk.
Note: LaRC has a large range of projects.
Edit Note: no changes were necessaryNote: NPR Tables 4-3 and 4-4 were a primary source for these requirementsNote: Identifies key technical and project management products along with the key decision points/gates
Edit note: no changes were necessaryNote: NPR8705.4, Risk Classification for Payloads was used as a starting point to categorize the missions. i.e., this was adapted from the risk classifications for payloads and generalized to go beyond payloads.Note: Used to apply risk based guidelines for the mission categorization
Edit note: No changes were necessary
Edit note: no changes were necessaryNote: Project Plan and HQ/Center are really just special cases of the Tailor Down category
Edit note: updated to latest version – Baseline1Note: Most of the tailoring is at the lower mission types which is to be expected as these projects don’t typically fall under the NPR7120.5D scope.Note: Provides a methodology for applying disciplined rigor based on the levels of risk.
Edit note: updated to latest version – Baseline1Note: KDP A was left at the HQ level for all mission types. The level/formality of the KDPs can be negotiated at the beginning of the project.Note: The KDP tailoring is not meant to diminish the levels of communication between the project and HQ. Just decreases the level of formality.
Note: Obtaining good examples is one of the areas still requiring a lot of work.Note: The tailoring aspect is meant to be just a part of the normal review and approval processes.
Edit note: no changes were necessaryNote: A sample example of the guidelines for a fairly small mission type E (suborbital or aircraft based mission).
Edit note: updated to latest version – Baseline1Note: This used to be after slide 13 (Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (1/4) now Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (1/2))
Edit note: updated to latest version – Baseline1Note: This used to be 2 slides after slide 13 (Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (1/4) now Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (1/2))
Edit note: no changes were necessaryNote: It is good to emphasize the SEMP on this slide as part of the NPR7120.5D product set, as this supports the later slide stating that the NPR7123.1A SEMP top-level requirement is already addressed.
Edit note: although some of the data in the Note: This slide doesn’t require much time, since this be shown in detail during the demonstration. Provides a snapshot memory for the slide package.
Note: The tailoring was synchronized with the current LPR approach for the SEMP.
Edit note: updated to latest version – Baseline1Note: Top 2 reviews are included for completeness, however, we did not look at the Program level for these guidelines.
Note: This slide doesn’t require much time, since this be shown in detail during the demonstration. Provides a snapshot memory for the slide package.
