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Tailoring NASA Requirements

to Fit the Project

Luat Nguyen and Keith Boadway

NASA Project Management (PM) Challenge 2012

February 2012

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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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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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Tailoring of Requirements

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NPR7120.57123.1

ProjectB

“Ideal”

“Ideal”Tailoring

“Actual”Tailoring

ProjectA

“Ideal”

Tailoring Guidelines

Tailoring Guidelines

ProjectC

“Ideal”

ProjectC

“ad hoc”

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NPR Procedural RequirementsTailoring 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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NPR 7120.5 Requirements for Tailoring

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Requirements from Chapter 4 of NPR 7120.5D

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Mission Types

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Tailoring Approach

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Tailoring Definitions

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Tailoring Term Definition

Blank/EmptyThe requirement is expected/required for this type of mission.

Tailor Down

Decrease the level of detail, formality, and rigor required based on the project’s size, complexity, and acceptable risk or the requirement may be captured/met by the fulfillment of another requirement.

Tailor OutSeek relief from the requirement based on the project’s size, complexity, and acceptable risk. This may require a waiver.

N/ANot applicable. The requirement is not relevant to the project type.

Proj. PlanThe intent of the requirement can be met and documented within the project plan.

HQ/CenterUsed to identify the recommended level of decision authority.

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Tailoring Overview – Page 1 of 2

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Management Requirements (Taken from Chapter 4 NPR 7120.5D, NASA Space Flight Program and Project)

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Tailoring Overview – Page 2 of 2

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Management Requirements (Taken from Chapter 4 NPR 7120.5D, NASA Space Flight Program and Project

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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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Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (1/4)

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Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (2/4)

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Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (3/4)

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Example Tailoring Guidelines – Type E (4/4)

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Tailoring Guidelines (Excel worksheet)

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ClickFilter Icon

Select desired mission types(1 or more)

Click OK button

• Products • Tailoring • Guideline

s

• Guidelines are defined for each Type (filters allow choice of display/print)

• Types • Examples • Advisor

s

• Filters

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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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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)

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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 Task Manager

Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs Concurs

Engineering Director Reviews Reviews Reviews Reviews Reviews Approves

Systems Engineering Team

Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares Prepares

Table 1-1 Responsibilities for the SEMP or alternative documentation of systems engineering implementation

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• 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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NPR 7123.1A – Technical Reviews

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Tailoring Overview – Technical Reviews

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Technical Reviews Guidelines - Filters

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Filters provide different ‘views’ of the information

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Selected

Review = Color Yellow

andType = D

Technical Reviews – Summary View Example

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2 Primary Filters (Review, Type)

Click OK button

Select worksheets

SummaryView

Which technical reviews are recommended for type D?

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Technical Reviews – Detailed View Example

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2 Primary Filters (Review, Type)

Selected

Review = b. MCR and

Type = D

DetailedView

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

What products are identified for MCR and mission type D?

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Technical Reviews – NPR 7123 View Example

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3 Primary Filters (Review, Type, Product)

Selected

Review = b. MCR and

Type = Dand

Product = color green

NPR 7123View

Displays only products associated

with the selected review, type, and NPR7123 criteria

Green text identifies items directly tied to NPR7123.1A criteria

{

What NPR7123 related products are identified for MCR and type D?

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Technical Reviews – Search View Example

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3 Primary Filters (Review, Type,

Guidelines)

Selected

Review = b. MCR and

Type = Dand

Guidelines = Text Filters contains…

= cost

SearchView

Displays only products associated

with the selected review, type, and

have the word cost in the guidelines

What MCR products for type D involve guidelines on cost?

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Technical Reviews – Product View Example

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3 Primary Filters (Review, Type, Product)

SelectedReview = Select All

and Type = D

andReview/Product =

SEMP (spelled out)

ProductView

Displays selected product and guidelines associated with reviews

and selected type

Green text shows when product is directly tied

to NPR7123.1A criteria

Gray background shows reviews that

were tailored out or N/A for selected type

How does the SEMP for type D mature through the lifecycle?

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Worksheets Demonstration

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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)