|
For Governance Models, Look to the Government
This article by Emory Miller, senior vice president for government affairs at
Robbins-Gioia, recommends that to achieve progress and meet Sarbanes-Oxley
requirements, companies should approach it as a governance instead of a compliance
issue. Companies can look to historically regulated government agencies for best
practices, which include institutional standing, public trust, accountability,
checks and balances, oversight, self-learning, integrity, and full disclosure.
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Journal, July 1, 2004
Tank Goodness
This article describes Robbins-Gioia’s role in developing the Abrams Integrated
Management material tracking system. AIMMTS is the system of record at the Anniston
Army Depot, where Abrams tanks are serviced. George Sheppard, Robbins-Gioia AIMMTS
project lead said that instead of every work center having its own ledgers or
spreadsheets, there is now one database and one system. James Coley, indirect
support manager, said that when the system is complete, Anniston will realize cost
efficiencies.
inboundlogistics.com, April, 2004
PMO SPEEDS SUCCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION FACILITY
The Transportation Security Coordination Center began as an empty building with no
facilities, utilities, or security. Within a program management framework, the TSCC
(now Transportation Security Operations Center) transformed itself on schedule and
on budget into a state-of-the-art facility with systems enabling intelligence
gathering on the country’s transportation infrastructure.
Click to Download Full Article [PDF 65k]
Project Management Institute, PM
Network, Project Management
Institute, Inc., 2004. Copyright and all rights reserved. Material from
this publication has been reproduced with the permission of PMI.
Army PEO goes for the edge
This article discusses the technology evaluation best practices of Robbins-Gioia's
customer Emerson Keslar, CIO of the Army's Program Executive Office for Command,
Control and Communications-Tactical at Fort Monmouth, N.J. Part of the PEO's job
is to evaluate and apply state-of-the-art IT to support tactical weapons systems
on the modern, digitized battlefield. "We really try to promote an environment
here of bringing in new products and technologies and trying to adapt them very
quickly," Keslar said. The article specifically focuses on the support that
Robbins-Gioia provided for the PEO's recent rollout of Microsoft Project 2002,
which lets PEO managers track the status of 35 different weapons programs across
the organization. Previously, each program had its own system for managing data.
Government Computer News, November 22, 2004
Vital Checks for Better Health
This article details how earned value management can help keep IT projects on
track in the government. For example, at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Modernization Office, EVM was incorporated into the Automated Commercial
Environment program. Dave Morrell, the office's team leader for project
management and Robbins-Gioia customer, predicted wider adoption of EVM among
government IT program managers. "EVM is a substantial improvement over the
subjective indicators often used in projects reporting past performance, and
[the strategies] provide the project manager with more reliable tools with
which to predict future performance," he said.
Federal
Computer Week, November 15, 2004
Holistic Approach Reinvigorates Management
This article discusses portfolio management and its benefits as agencies work
to prioritize IT programs and allocate budgets accordingly. Robbins-Gioia's Wei
Tang provided background on the importance of portfolio management, stating,
"Portfolio management allows executives to survey IT investments across the
entire organization. It shows them a system inventory, redundant systems,
investments in systems, investment risk, and the progression of projects within
the portfolio." Robbins-Gioia's Keith Kerr provided tips for getting the most
out of portfolio management processes. He advised agency officials that
information gleaned from portfolio management must not be used to micromanage
or second-guess decisions made at the project level.
Federal
Computer Week, November 15, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Offers Services on $610 Million Contract
Based on a press release, this article states that Robbins-Gioia, LLC, is part
of a team that has been awarded the $610,000,000 indefinite delivery/indefinite
quantity Combined Advisory, Assistance, Systems Engineering and Technical
Assistance (CAASETA) contract to provide advisory and assistance services and
engineering and technical assistance for HQ Air Force Space Command, Peterson
Air Force Base, Colo.
Business Wire, November 1, 2004
Expect Some Changes in the Ranks of Appointees
This article discusses political appointee changes that occur around every
presidential election. "Some of the best thinking comes during times like
this," said Emory Miller, who worked for 4 agencies during a 36-year federal
career before becoming senior vice president for government affairs at
Robbins-Gioia LLC. "You have the ability to think freshly and anticipate
possible changes and opportunities to make your case for what you think is
best."
Government Computer News,
October 25, 2004
More Oversight on Combat Systems Spending
This article discusses the 2005 Defense Authorization bill approved by a House
and Senate conference committee, noting that although it promises more
regulation, the bill provides rapid acquisition authority for combat commanders
and increases the duration of multiyear task-and-delivery order contracts from
five to ten years. Andrea White, Robbins-Gioia director of contracts, said that
adding an extra five years to multiyear task-order contracts will reduce
administrative overhead for DOD officials and their contractors.
Federal
Computer Week, October 18, 2004
10 Must Reads for Government IT Managers
This article provides reading recommendations from IT leaders, including Gene
Bounds, chief operating officer, Robbins-Gioia LLC. Bounds recommends Women
Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide by Linda Babcock and Sara
Laschever. He noted that the book "draws on research to help us identify
differences between men and women in their propensity to negotiate for what
they want. From my perspective, negotiation as a workplace skill is seldom
addressed in terms of cultural and gender differences that managers should
understand and value."
Federal
Computer Week, September 20, 2004
USPTO Goes Digital
This article details Robbins-Gioia's customer, the USPTO and its Public Patent
Application Information Retrieval, or PAIR project, which will allow the public
to search and review patent applications and decisions on the Web. "We're
saving in the multiple millions.... We can hire more patent examiners with the
savings," said Nick Godici, USPTO commissioner of patents. The article notes
that in the future, all applications will not only be retrieved also filed
electronically. "It's been a sea change," said Robert Weir, president of The
National Intellectual Property Researchers Association, an organization of
patent searchers.
Federal
Computer Week, August 30, 2004
Project and Program Management Processes Boost Profits
This article discusses the Robbins-Gioia survey linking effective project and
program management processes to top-line results. Key findings include the fact
that 62 percent of companies with active project management offices reported
"healthy" or "very healthy" profitability. The article appeared in the August
print edition and online.
Quality Digest,
August 2004
The Funding Equation Starts at 300
This article details the process for developing solid business cases and
managing IT investments. Robbins-Gioia's Keith Kerr and customer Debbie
Flickinger of the Customs and Border Protection modernization office are
quoted. "The 300 is not just a one-time thing," said Kerr, director of the
solutions group and business-case product manager for Robbins Gioia, which
provides program management services to the CBP. He added, "Unfortunately,
that's the way a lot of people approach this. They try to get a good score so
they get the funding, then they put it in the closet, move on and then go
through this fire drill again the next year." Flickinger and Tony Fotouh, also
from the CBP, are included in the article photography.
Government Computer
News, August 16, 2004
Leadership at the depot changes hands
In a hail-and-farewell ceremony, Col. Gerald Bates, commander of the Anniston
Army Depot for the last three years, passed the leadership position to Col.
Alexander Raulerson, former chief of plans, programs, and exercises at Fort
McPherson, Ga. Bates listed improving the depot's infrastructure; handling an
increased workload; and creating partnerships with defense industry companies
such as Robbins-Gioia, among others, as key developments.
The Anniston Star, August 14, 2004
The Source of the Problem
This article states that a formal governance program is critical to outsourcing
success, noting that half of all outsourcing efforts fail. Eric Gioia and
Patricia Davis-Muffett of Robbins-Gioia offer a roadmap for managing outsourced
projects more effectively. Gioia said that frequently, organizations don't have
the in-house resources to manage vendor relationships. Davis-Muffett said,
"We're applying core project management competencies-requirements, definition,
risk management, cost and performance management schemes-to this problem."
Projects@Work,
August 10, 2004
Lessons From Hurricane Hugo
This article by Hal Hunt of Robbins-Gioia details the importance of a disaster
recovery plan, illustrated with specific lessons learned during Hurricane Hugo.
Hunt highlights areas such as training, equipment protection, and
communications planning as key considerations for a disaster recovery plan.
eCommerce Times,
August 5, 2004
Army group chapter has grown, seeks still more members
With the help of Robbins-Gioia and a few other corporate members, the AUSA’s
satellite chapter in Calhoun County has increased its membership to 136—and is
looking for more.
The Anniston (Alabama) Star, August 4, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Receives TSA Order
The Robbins-Gioia TSA Win is included in Federal Times' Business Report this
week. The news brief notes that Robbins-Gioia will provide program management
support services for the Acquisition and Project Management Support Division of
the Transportation Security Administration.
Federal Times, July 26, 2004
An Enterprise Performance Guide
This byline article by Tom Borland of Robbins-Gioia outlines six steps for
success in implementing an enterprise performance methodology.
DM Review, July 24, 2004
Enterprise Performance Management: An Executive-Level Implementation Guide
This bylined article by Tom Boland of Robbins-Gioia outlines six steps for
success in implementing an enterprise performance management methodology.
DM Direct Newsletter, July 23, 2004
Robbins-Gioia brings Shelton onboard
July 19, 2004
This press release, announcing the appointment of former Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman Gen. Hugh Shelton to the Robbins-Gioia board, appeared in the
following publications:
Federal
Computer Week
Yahoo! Finance
Finance Canada!
Vantage Link
CNN Money
Dallas Morning News
Recruiter.com
Greater Richmond Technology Council
Security Sales & Integration
VA Newswire
Virginia Business
TSA Win
Robbins-Gioia LLC of Alexandria won a $999,000 order to provide program
management support services to the Transportation Security Administration's
Acquisition and Program Management Support Division. The company will provide
models, templates and mentoring to improve the effectiveness of TSA programs.
Washington
Post
, July 18, 2004
Don’t Stop Thinking About the Value
This in-depth article discusses the challenges that IT executives face as they
work to ensure the systems implemented deliver value for their organizations.
The article includes results from the Robbins-Gioia portfolio management
survey, noting that while more than 70 percent of companies surveyed had a
portfolio management process, 30 percent of companies make a practice of using
portfolio management, and only 17 percent used it well.
CIO
, July 15, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Nabs TSA Deal
This article discusses Robbins-Gioia's recent TSA win, highlighting both the
BPA and the first task order win. It also references our previous work at TSA.
Washington
Technology
, July 13, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Awarded TSA Blanket Purchase Agreement and First Task Order
July 12 and 13, 2004
The following publications included coverage of the Robbins-Gioia TSA win
release:
Forbes
Federal
Computer Week
Virginia Business Magnet
VANewswire
Security Sales & Integration
Greater Richmond Technology Council
Dallas Morning News
CNN Money
Aviation Today
Finance Canada
Yahoo! News
Lycos
On the Case
This article focuses on business case software solutions, and makes reference
to Robbins-Gioia's business case offering, noting that Robbins-Gioia was one of
the first companies to create a business case solution.
Government Computer News
, July 12, 2004
The TSP debacle: Could it happen at your agency?
This cover story details the problems with the TSP project from a "lessons
learned" perspective. Robbins-Gioia’s Denis Brown, senior vice president of
homeland security, offered thoughts on the value of independent program
management oversight. "The Defense Department has used independent evaluators
on weapon projects for decades, but in the last few years, more and more
civilian agencies are beginning to realize they are necessary," Brown said. He
warned that an independent evaluator doesn't guarantee a project's success,
saying, “We can't always stop things from going wrong, but we can let you know
the project is in trouble in time to do something about it.”
Federal Times
, July 12, 2004
Studies in Excellence—Sharon Mazur
This special FCW issue profiles the best government program managers.
Robbins-Gioia customer Sharon Mazur, acting executive director, U.S. Customs
and Border Protection Modernization Office, is included. The article outlines
her responsibilities, what makes her a good program manager, how she got where
she is, and the best advice she’s ever received about program management.
Federal
Computer Week, July 12, 2004
Anniston Area AUSA Members Cited for Outstanding Work
Robbins-Gioia employees Jacklin Carlson, Lezlee Davis, and Clint Sprayberry
were recognized at a May 25, 2004, AUSA meeting for their volunteer work in
helping to revitalize AUSA in the Calhoun County area. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Gerald
G. Watson, president of the Anniston Area Satellite Chapter of AUSA, wrote, “…
I want to personally thank you and the entire Robbins-Gioia team for your
outstanding service.” In the same issue, Robbins-Gioia is listed as a corporate
member of the AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter.
The Salute (quarterly newsletter of the Association of the United States Army),
July 7, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Gets Ready for the World
This article details Robbins-Gioia’s preparations to become part of the
Institute for International Research. Robbins-Gioia President and CEO Jim Leto
said that his company, which has a reputation for being a project management
consultant for federal agencies, will branch out. The article points to
international and commercial opportunity, noting that Robbins-Gioia will focus
more attention on the commercial market.
Federal
Computer Week
, July 5, 2004
For Governance Models, Look to the Government
This article by Emory Miller, senior vice president for government affairs at
Robbins-Gioia, recommends that to achieve progress and meet Sarbanes-Oxley
requirements, companies should approach it as a governance instead of a
compliance issue. Companies can look to historically regulated government
agencies for best practices, which include institutional standing, public
trust, accountability, checks and balances, oversight, self-learning,
integrity, and full disclosure.
Sarbanes-Oxley
Compliance Journal
, July 1, 2004
Project and Program Management Processes Reap Profits for Companies
June 30, 2004
The following publications included coverage of the Robbins-Gioia press release
announcing survey findings that organizations with project and program
management processes in place, such as project portfolio management and project
management offices (PMOs), are more profitable than those without them.
Forbes
VA Newswire
Virginia Business Magnet
Dallas News.com
CNN Money
CBS Marketwatch
The Charlotte Observer
ICMark.com
Finance Canada.com
Moningstar.com
Yahoo! Finance
Hoovers Online
Optical Keyhole.com
Security Sales & Integration
News@Searchtheweb.com
Greater Richmond Technology Council
DCD Business
Good Consultants Leave Their Knowledge Behind
This article by John Madej, general manager for civil agencies at Robbins-Gioia
LLC, describes the important role of knowledge transfer in consulting
relationships and offers federal agencies advice for working with their
consultants to realize the full benefit from these relationships.
Federal Times,
June 28, 2004
Beating the Budget Clock: How Some Agencies Bring Sanity to Financial
Management
This front-page article discusses the difficulties many federal agencies face
in managing their budgets strategically. Most must frantically spend every
penny of their budgets by Sept. 30, the end of their fiscal year. Daniel
Krausse, a senior budget analyst for Robbins-Gioia, explained some ways
managers can make end-of-the-year procurement easier.
Federal Times, June 21, 2004
AO Runners Go The Distance
Bruce Anich, Robbins-Gioia senior consulting manager, Project Coordination
Office, Office of IT, is mentioned as one of several AO team members who have
run in past Marine Corps marathons to build camaraderie. Anich is
training for this year's marathon in October.
Spotlight, published by the Public Affairs Office of the Administrative Office
of the U.S. Courts, June 2004
Robbins-Gioia Partners With RecoveryPlanner.com
June 14, 2004
These articles announce Robbins-Gioia's partnership with RecoveryPlanner.com.
They position Robbins-Gioia as a player in the business continuity and disaster
recovery arena and communicate the value of the relationship with
RecoveryPlanner.com in providing a comprehensive solution.
Continuity Central
TMCNet
Yahoo! Finance
Contract Awarded
This news brief mentions that Robbins-Gioia, LLC, of Alexandria won a
$98,933 contract from the Army Material Command for program management support.
Washington
Post, June 14, 2004
Center Will Keep Airports In The Loop
This article details the creation of the Transportation Security Coordination
Center (TSCC), a facility dedicated to integrating intelligence and operations,
to coordinate countermeasures to prevent and respond to terrorist threats
across all U.S. modes of transportation. The article mentions Robbins-Gioia's
contributions and team members, including an operations manager, two financial
analysts, two master schedulers, and a civil engineer.
Access
Control and Security Systems, May 2004
Custom Training Gives Some Agencies an Edge
This article focuses on the two different approaches to project management
training: sending employees to courses or providing in-house training. It
details the Department of Agriculture's choice of Robbins-Gioia to teach
project management to its staff. “One of the advantages of using a consultant
is that we can customize the training to reflect Agriculture’s specific rules
and methods,” said Jennifer Stanford, Robbins-Gioia director of professional
development.
Federal Times, May 17, 2004
Consultants Help Managers Organize, Execute Projects
This article highlights the role of consultants in helping agency project
managers perform effectively. It features Robbins-Gioia's work with the
Homeland Security Department's Customs and Border Protection modernization
office on the Automated Customs Environment project. “Having a company like
ours gives Customs early visibility into what may go wrong in time to fix it,”
said Gino Marchetti, Robbins-Gioia site director.
Federal Times, May 17, 2004
Team Member Profile of the Month
This article highlights the PM contributions of Hal Hunt, PMP, consulting
manager at Robbins-Gioia, LLC. Hal is a highly experienced international
program manager who has successfully managed programs or been a member of
program teams in the United States and seven foreign countries. Since returning
to the United States, he has been a founding member of the PMO office for a
major e-Gov initiative at the USPTO and is now supporting DHS’ US-VISIT PMO.
PPMS (Program Management and Portfolio Management) Community Voice, May
2004
Oklahoma Aerospace Technology Summit & Expo Special Section
Robbins-Gioia is listed as an exhibitor at the Oklahoma Aerospace Technology
Summit and Expo.
The Sunday Oklahoman, May 9, 2004
Defense Contractors Tackle DHS Integration Needs
This article discusses the challenge of integrating significant amounts of data
to support the DHS mission. The article references the fact that Customs Border
Protection recently became the first federal civilian agency to attain a level
2 rating under the Capability Maturity Model for Software Acquisition. Stephen
Hawald, executive consultant from Robbins-Gioia, said, "The CMM rating provides
the customer with confidence that the acquisitions are aligned with the
enterprise architecture and are interoperable with other information systems
within the bureau and the department as a whole."
Homeland Defense Journal, April 2004
PMO Speeds Success For Transportation Facility
This case analysis details the TSA's success in building the Transportation
Security Coordination Center—and the role Robbins-Gioia played in supporting
the effort. The article is placed opposite the inside front cover and quotes
Bill Eaton, Robbins-Gioia site lead. A project summary sidebar outlines the
schedule and notes that the project was completed under budget.
PM Network, May 2004
Defense Contractors Tackle DHS Integration Needs
This article discusses the challenge of integrating significant amounts of data
to support the DHS mission. The article references the fact that Customs Border
Protection recently became the first federal civilian agency to attain a level
2 rating under the Capability Maturity Model for Software Acquisition. Stephen
Hawald, executive consultant from Robbins-Gioia, said, "The CMM rating provides
the customer with confidence that the acquisitions are aligned with the
enterprise architecture and are interoperable with other information systems
within the bureau and the department as a whole."
Homeland Defense Journal, April 2004
MSG and UD Seniors Collaborate To Develop PDA Application and Web Interface
for Facility Management
This article by Robbins-Gioia Senior Consultant Connie Wiest describes the
mentoring that MSG staff offered to University of Dayton seniors involved in a
project to develop a personal data assistant application and web-based
interface for MSG’s facility management team.
Wright-Patterson Skywriter, April 30, 2004
Federal Contracts Awarded in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
This news brief mentions that Robbins-Gioia, LLC, of Alexandria won a $98,933
contract from the Army Materiel Command for program management support.
States News Service, April 27, 2004
DOE pushes back release date for final RFPs on Idaho contracts
Robbins-Gioia is listed as one of 22 potential bidders on two major DOE
contracts. The current Idaho National Engineering & Environmental
Laboratory will be merged with the collocated Argonne National Laboratory West
to create a lab that will be the center of DOE's nuclear energy research.
Bidder responses to the final RFP on the management and operations contract
will contain research proposals. The cleanup contract will deal with the site's
legacy waste. The final RFPs are expected in May. (This article is available
online only with a paid subscription. For more information on the contracts,
see www.id.doe.gov.)
Nucleonics Week, April 22, 2004
Keeping Planes Safe
GAO developed a report that outlined several challenges related to the
MAN-Portable Air Defense (MANPADS) program. (MANPADS, small portable weapons,
are attractive to terrorists because they are lethal, concealable, inexpensive,
and relatively simple to operate.) Keith Kerr, director of solutions
development at Robbins-Gioia, said, that the GAO report advises that the
Department of Homeland Security understand the differences, threats, and
alternatives and cohere this information. He added, "It's about setting up a
disciplined approach and making it work by breaking the development into
chunks: What type of training do your people need? Do you have all spare parts
in place?”
Government Executive, April 2004
Tank Goodness
This article describes Robbins-Gioia's role in developing the Abrams Integrated
Management material tracking system. AIMMTS is the system of record at the
Anniston Army Depot, where Abrams tanks are serviced. George Sheppard,
Robbins-Gioia AIMMTS project lead said that instead of every work center having
its own ledgers or spreadsheets, there is now one database and one system.
James Coley, indirect support manager, said that when the system is complete,
Anniston will realize cost efficiencies.
inboundlogistics.com, April 2004
Business Briefs; Management Meeting
This news brief notes that Doug Brown, consulting manager with Robbins-Gioia
LLC, will speak at the monthly meeting of the Project Management Institute
Central Illinois chapter in Bloomington.
Journal Star
(Peoria, Ill.), April 13, 2004
Federal Contracts Awarded in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
This news brief mentions that Robbins-Gioia won a $99,983 contract from the
U.S. Army's Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, Picatinny
Arsenal, N.J., for program management support for the multi-role armament and
ammunition system.
States News Service, April 6, 2004
The Agenda
This overview of the federal mandate to improve project performance holds up
the Customs ACE project as a positive example in the section "Measuring
Intangibles." Robbins-Gioia customer Charles Armstrong is quoted. In the
section, “Making the Case,” Robbins-Gioia Vice President of Marketing Tricia
Davis-Muffett noted that developing good business cases requires good project
management, adding, "You have to get realistic data about what the ROI is going
to be, and a lot of the data comes out of the project management process."
Projects@work,
April 5, 2004
DHS Strikes Deal With Industry
The article notes that the Department of Homeland Security recently awarded a
blanket purchase agreement to nine companies for program management support
services, listing Robbins-Gioia as one of them. Challenges the companies face
include a small agency staff in proportion to its projected portfolio; legacy
and interim management processes already in place; DHS' size and complexity;
and conforming all work to DHS security requirements.
Federal
Computer Week, April 5, 2004
In your Backyard
This article discusses the GSA/CIO Council's CIO University as a way for
federal workers to get academic credentials in IT. Emory Miller, a founder of
the program and former GSA official who is now senior vice president for
government affairs at Robbins-Gioia, LLC, said, “We had an influence on what
universities were teaching. It helped them get attuned to what is happening in
the government."
Federal
Computer Week, April 5, 2004
Strength in Numbers; New maturity ratings scheme wins support among systems
integrators
This article discusses the new Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI)
that is replacing the older, well-established Capability Maturity Model. Gene
Bounds, Robbins-Gioia COO, said that the value of a CMMI rating is what it says
about the underlying organization. Stephen Hawald, a Robbins-Gioia executive
consultant, added, “People who aren’t on the bandwagon now are going to find
themselves falling behind.”
Federal
Computer Week, March 29, 2004
Appointments
This news brief notes that Robbins-Gioia of Alexandria named Jon Love senior
vice president, commercial operations.
The
Washington Post, March 29, 2004
Women in defense: a national security organization
The article recognizes Robbins-Gioia, among other companies, as a supporter of
the Women in Defense organization. It also notes that Robbins-Gioia recently
hired WID Secretary Marie Danco as a project manager.
National Defense, March 2004
Defense industry supporters want local chapter of Army association
Supporters of the local defense industry want to revive a local chapter of the
Association of the United States Army, filling an advocacy gap that was created
after Fort McClellan closed. In particular, they want to show support for the
Anniston Army Depot, which is under threat from next year's base cuts. Dave
Sparrow, site manager for Robbins-Gioia and one of the recruiters for the
chapter, said, “We're trying to get as much participation as we can.”
The Anniston Star, March 16, 2003
Emory Miller: Blazing a Trail
This article focuses on the importance of training and education within the
federal government, particularly the role of project management. Emory Miller,
formerly with the General Services Administration and now with Robbins-Gioia,
provided commentary on evolving the government's training programs noting that
for IT managers to be successful, they have to have a broad perspective, ask
intelligent questions, and understand how multiple factors influence the
decisions they make.
Federal
Computer Week, March 15, 2004
Fed 100 Winners
Announcing the Fed 100 winners for 2004, this article provides background
information on two winners nominated by Robbins-Gioia, Doug Bourgeois and David
Zeppieri.The awards recognize individuals from government, industry and
academia who significantly influenced how the federal government used, bought,
or managed information technology in the previous year. The judges this year
were especially interested in issues that related to the President's Management
Agenda. While they did not discuss the agenda in specific terms, their choices
reflected its general aims, including electronic delivery of services,
cross-agency collaboration, and results-oriented management.
Federal Computer Week,
March 15, 2004
ANAD & Robbins-Gioia Celebrate 10-year Anniversary
This article by Dave Sparrow, Robbins-Gioia site manager at the Anniston Army
depot, describes the anniversary event on February 27, 2004, commemorating
R-G’s and ANAD’s 10 years of successful partnership.
Tracks, March 11, 2004
Who's On First
This news brief states that Jim Leto, Robbins-Gioia president and chief
executive officer, has been appointed to the board of EzGov, Inc. EzGov
provides software and services that make government more accessible.
Washington
Technology, March 8, 2004
Rethinking Procurement: Army ITES Offers Performance-Based Contracting,
Speedier Tech Refresh
This article discusses the fact that the Army's $1 billion Information
Technology Enterprise Solutions (ITES) contracts introduce performance-based
contracting to the Army for the first time. They were awarded in two lots, one
for IT products and one for services. Mike Sledge, Robbins-Gioia senior vice
president, said that the government is getting a "solution that addresses their
basic business problems." (This article is not available online.)
Federal Computer Week, March 8, 2004
Problems solvers: Computer firm spends 10 years with depot
The article notes that Robbins-Gioia recently celebrated 10 years as a tenant
at the Anniston Army Depot and outlines the company’s innovative solutions to
the depot’s production needs. Attendees included Jim Leto, Robbins-Gioia
president and CEO, Col. Gerald Bates, depot commander, and Sherri Sumners,
Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce president. “Anniversaries are like
celebrations for friends and family, and that’s how we feel about
Robbins-Gioia,” Sumners said.
Anniston (Alabama) Star, March 5, 2004
DHS Bureau Standardizes Software Acquisitions
Based on Robbins-Gioia's announcement that the U.S. Bureau of Customs and
Border Protection achieved a SA-CMM Level 2 rating, this article notes that
Robbins-Gioia helped the CBP establish its software purchasing process. Stephen
Hawald, Robbins-Gioia executive consultant, said that large modernization
efforts are often canceled because of a lack of a "controlled process
discipline." He added that the benefit of CMM is that it provides a proven
software acquisition framework.
Government Computer
News, February 24, 2004
Who's on First
This news brief notes that Emory Miller, formerly GSA’s director of
professional development, will join Robbins-Gioia as senior vice president for
government affairs on March 1.
Washington
Technology, February 23, 2003
Industry Wrapups: EZ Decision
his news brief states that Jim Leto, Robbins-Gioia president and CEO, has
joined the board of EzGov, Inc., which provides software and services to make
government more accessible. Other EzGov board members include former U.S. Rep.
Jack Kemp and former Dunn & Bradstreet Software Chairman John Imlay. (See
page 2 of the article.)
Atlanta Business Chronicle, February 20, 2004
Hereabouts: 2 Green Countians receive certification
This news brief mentions that Sarah Fulton and Tom Lesnoski, employees of
Robbins-Gioia, LLC, passed an exam to receive the Project Management
Institute's Project Management Professional Certification.
Dayton Daily News, February 19, 2004
GSA signs first SmartBuy deal with ESRI
The GSA last week signed a five-year contract for the SmartBuy enterprise
licensing program from the geographic information systems vendor ESRI. A GSA
press release said the SmartBuy initiative will save tens of millions of
dollars by leveraging the government's consolidated buying power. Emory Miller,
who ran the SmartBuy program for GSA before retiring in December and is now
Robbins-Gioia senior vice president for government affairs, is quoted in the
article.
Government Computer
News, February 19, 2004
Washington
Technology, February 19, 2004
Snapshots
This article shows a pie chart based on findings from Robbins-Gioia's recent
survey of project managers. Sixty-six percent of the companies surveyed have an
infrastructure, such as a PMO, to manage major projects; twenty-nine percent do
not.
Computerworld, February 16, 2004
(see page 46 of the print version)
The Almanac
In one of the articles in this collection of PM news briefs, Robbins-Gioia
Executive Vice President Eric Gioia and Marketing Vice President Tricia
Davis-Muffett offer three tips to run a PMO. Another article shows a pie chart
based on findings from Robbins-Gioia's recent survey of project managers. Two
percent of the companies surveyed manage projects perfectly, two percent manage
them very poorly—and sixty-nine percent manage them sometimes well, sometimes
not.
Computerworld, February 16, 2004
Decision Support: Outsourcing relationships don't stop at negotiations, part
2
Part two of a two-part series, this article discusses how to best implement a
governance process. Governance is defined as a set of processes run by a joint
committee, which includes members of the client and supplier's team. Once the
outsourcing relationship is under way, Robbins-Gioia President and CEO Jim Leto
noted, "the quality of management provided by the client is one of the most
important factors in whether the relationship succeeds or not." The article
goes on to outline three ways to secure outsourcing success.
TechRepublic,
February 11, 2004
Comings and goings
Emory Miller, who retired from the General Services Administration last month,
will join consulting firm Robbins-Gioia LLC March 1 as senior vice president of
government affairs.
Federal
Computer Week, February 9, 2004
Another View: At OMB, Green Does Not Always Mean Go
Eric Gioia's bylined article focuses on OMB's Federal Enterprise Architecture
agenda. Gioia, executive vice president of Robbins-Gioia, notes that OMB's
architecture goals go beyond instilling a disciplined business case development
process to include linking IT investments to outcomes relevant to customers.
Gioia warns, though, that it is not enough to generate return on investment-the
return must also create value against an existing government mission. He
recommends two additional steps to focus resources: prioritize projects against
the agency's overall strategic and mission agenda and collaborate whenever
possible.
Government Computer News,
February 9, 2004
Decision Support: Design Outsourcing Relationships That Yield Long-term ROI,
Part 1
This article focuses on how enterprises can develop and manage successful
outsourcing relationships. This first of a two-part series closely examines
goal alignment and agreement challenges. Jim Leto, president and CEO of
Robbins-Gioia, notes that very early on in the relationship, both parties must
engage in focused, direct communication about goals. Leto advises "to start
with the identification of goals, since once these are clearly understood, the
prospective partners are in a better position to clearly recognize which
financial, performance, and/or strategic metrics are appropriate for measuring
success."
TechRepublic,
February 9, 2004
Tips for crafting better outsourcing relationships
This article explains that although each service level agreement is unique to
the type of service being purchased, there are twelve questions to ask yourself
as you review an SLA. Robbins-Gioia's Director of Contracts Andrea White
provided the content for this article.
TechRepublic,
February 6, 2004
Robbins-Gioia snags project management deal
Homeland Security department officials have recently awarded Robbins-Gioia,
LLC, a five-year blanket purchase agreement for project management support
services. Mike Sledge, Robbins-Gioia's vice president for civil agencies, said,
""I think this will help provide consistency across the board in the way
projects are implemented, executed and reported on."
Federal
Computer Week, February 3, 2004
Robbins-Gioia Hires Emory Miller
Federal
Computer Week, January 30, 2004
GSA’s Miller to join Robbins-Gioia
Government Computer
News, January 30, 2004
GSA’s Miller to join Robbins-Gioia
Washington
Technology, January 30, 2004
Programmed for Success
This thought leadership profile discusses PM's crucial role in merging 22
disparate agencies into the Department of Homeland Security. Robbins-Gioia CEO
and President Jim Leto, COO Gene Bounds, and Homeland Security Unit Chief Lou
Nappi discuss how the company has assisted DHS in Transportation Security
Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and U.S. Visit programs. Robbins-Gioia
customer and Transportation Security Coordination Center Director Curt Powell
said, “I knew Robbins-Gioia was unique. Their customer service is like none
I’ve ever seen.”
Public CIO, February 2004
Making systems work
This column by Jim Leto, president and CEO of Robbins-Gioia, LLC, addresses
whether training courses will solve the fundamental problem of poorly managed
or under-managed IT projects in the federal government. “I doubt it,” Leto
wrote, adding, “There must be a commitment throughout the ranks to making
program management a priority and providing the time and money to get it right
and make real progress.”
Federal
Computer Week, January 26, 2004
DHS Bureau Organizes to the Max
A strong governance structure goes a long way towards maximizing performance—
especially when the performance involves a large and complex modernization
program. The article addresses Robbins-Gioia’s role in the Automated Commercial
Environment (ACE) system modernization at the Homeland Security Department's
Customs and Border Protection. “We have a broad responsibility at Customs and
Border Protection,” said Jim Wallin, executive consultant for Robbins-Gioia
LLC. “We interface with some 104 other agency offices that are dependent on
goods coming across the border, so we have a fairly significant outreach
program to other agencies.”
Government Computer News,
January 26, 2004
Set Goals, Track Progress to Rein In Contract Costs
Run as a sidebar to the article named above, “Survey: Project Management
Training Cuts Redundancy” is based on a Robbins-Gioia press release discussing
the results of two R-G surveys. One finding is that organizations using
business-case processes are able to eliminate more than 90 percent of
redundancy in projects.
Federal Times, January 19, 2004
|
|
| |
 |
|
