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Transformational Project Management
All meaningful change comes from within—even when it comes to program management. This article by Robbins-Gioia’s
John Conti focuses on how companies can transform their own project management programs to deliver success.
Chief Project Officer, October 5, 2005
Feds train to achieve Six Sigma results
Six Sigma is not a short-term fix—it should be a way of life, notes Patty Sparks, Anniston Army depot’s continuous
improvement manager. Increasingly, DOD agencies are investing in Six Sigma training to achieve process improvement
and project efficiency.
Federal Computer Week, October 3, 2005
5 Keys to Performance-Based Contracting
This article offers five tips for companies to adjust to performance-based contracting. Andrea White, director of
contracts and support services for Robbins-Gioia, provided expert advice for three of the five areas: getting started,
tying payment closely to performance, and managing contracts. “Flexibility is crucial,” White said, adding that it is
important to realize that change will occur.
Federal Computer Week, September 5, 2005
Using Lean Six Sigma as the Basis for Project Management Scorecard
In this article, Sylvia Palm, a Robbins-Gioia executive consultant, focuses on the benefits of integrating Six
Sigma and project management standards. The article discusses the importance of statistical and process
improvement tools in using Lean Six Sigma for PM scorecards. Palm contends that for an organization to evolve to
a higher maturity level, it needs “to dedicate significant resources and attention to project management process
improvement and their measurement systems.”
Chief Project Officer, September 1, 2005
Survey Says: Serve Your Customers Well, Produce Quality, Deliver Results
This article by Robbins-Gioia’s Patricia Davis-Muffett and Carina Veksler focuses on recent Robbins-Gioia research
that asked respondents from a variety of industries to rank their organization’s top business priorities, where efforts
were focused, what drivers motivated those efforts, and what processes were in place to achieve the desired results.
Survey results showed that core success factors included serving customers well, producing quality, and delivering
results.
Chief Project Officer, August 1, 2005
Done Deals
This news brief states that Robbins-Gioia was awarded a follow-on task order to provide program management support
services for the Acquisition and Program Management Support Division within the Office of Acquisition at the Transportation
Security Administration. The award is valued at $3.7 million.
Projects@Work, July 29, 2005
People Places
This news brief mentions that Robbins-Gioia has appointed Michael Sledge as division president for
civilian agencies and homeland security. Sledge will oversee engagements with federal civilian
agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, Herman Velasquez has been
named president of the commercial solutions division (CSD). He will plan and direct all aspects of
CSD operations and initiatives, including sales, delivery, professional services, and solution
support to commercial enterprises.
Projects@Work, July 29, 2005
The Ins and Outs of Project Management
This article discusses the importance of people skills to project management, noting that they are
best taught in interactive classroom settings. Jennifer Stanford, director of professional
development at Robbins-Gioia, said that project managers in her training seminars note that their
toughest challenge is expectations management—when the project team’s and customer’s thoughts are
not aligned. She said that project management training that doesn’t stress soft skills is
overlooking a critical piece of project management.
Training Magazine, July 1, 2005
Pass the Information, Please
This article focuses information-sharing among federal, state, and local agencies. Robbins-Gioia’s
customer, Lee Holcomb, chief technology officer within the office of the chief information officer
at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted that information-sharing is the highest priority
and that there is technical progress and significant successes in DHS information sharing. In
addition, the article focuses on the structure and connection of different databases, data labeling,
and service-oriented architecture. Holcomb said that there are tools being developed to move
information between multiple domains without a lot of human interaction.
HS Today, July 1, 2005
Business Notes—Robbins-Gioia, LLC
This brief mentions how Robbins-Gioia won a $3.7 million contract to provide program management
support services to the Transportation Security Administration.
Washington Times, June 27, 2005
Consulting
This brief announces that Herman Velasquez was appointed president of Robbins-Gioia’s commercial
solutions division.
Washington Business Journal, June 23, 2005
T&F Informa buys conferences group IIR Holdings
This news item announces that academic and professional publisher T&F Informa PLC said it plans to
conferences and customized training business IIR Holdings Ltd for 1.4 billion. IIR had revenues in
the last year to December of 572.6 million, up 20.2 percent from a year earlier and boosted to the
tune of 42.5 million by a five-month contribution from the acquisition in 2004 of Robbins-Gioia.
Forbes.com, June 1, 2005
The Big Fix
This article focuses on how government agencies keep big projects on track and lessons learned from the
previous project fixes. Louis Samenfink, executive director of the Office of Modernization for Customs
and Border Protection’s (CBP) 1.3 billion Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) project, said that
continuity is bolstered by having a solid, knowledgeable program management staff. Stephen Hawald,
Robbins-Gioia executive consultant to CBP on the ACE project, said “Once you get over $750 million and
you get into the billions, it’s a whole different set of skills.”
Government Leader, June 6, 2005
Diplomatic Relations
This article features four executive interviews on the connection between customer relationship management
success and project management best practices. It includes a discussion with Robbins-Gioia customer, Jack Cline,
deputy commander at the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD). In its work for the Tank Automotive and Armament Command,
ANAD overhauls and repairs all heavy-track combat systems—with a budget in excess of $1 billion. To deliver on
customer expectations, ANAD uses formal project management processes, including lean manufacturing. As a part
of the process, a project officer is assigned to each value stream. Cline said, “You must have someone who
understands project management and touches both internal and external customers.”
PM Network, June 1, 2005
Speed Limit
This article details best practices for accelerating IT projects. When an IT project requires a rushed timeline,
there are some IT-specific best practices--on top of basic project management techniques—that can compress the
schedule. Considerations when accelerating an IT project timeline include budget, opportunity cost, available
resources, and potential outsourcing. Bob Woodruff, assistant to the CEO at Robbins-Gioia LLC, said, “It’s not
just the cost in terms of blowing the budget, it’s the opportunity cost of the slippage. Exceeding the budget
by 10 percent may not be significant compared to the lost revenue foregone through being late.”
PM Network, June 1, 2005
Beyond Skill Building
This article by Robbins-Gioia Director of Professional Development Jennifer Stanford focuses on organizations
seeking a blended learning approach, combining knowledge transfer with behavioral changes toward performance
management. Stanford writes that simply teaching new skills is not necessarily going to produce the desired
behavior change and performance improvement. The environment must be available for students to successfully
use their newfound skills.
Chief Project Officer, June 1, 2005
All Together Now
This article provides an overview from systems integrators and industry experts on planning and executing
successful integration projects. Bob Woodruff, assistant to the CEO at Robbins-Gioia LLC noted, "The most
critical phase of the project includes really understanding its purpose before it starts and interviewing
all stakeholders to find out their definition of what will make the project successful." He advised avoiding
projects without sufficient executive sponsorship or funding, pet projects that provide only short-term gain
and projects that have ill-defined requirements.
Computerworld, May 30, 2005
The Future of Business on the Web: Panel
This article focuses on the May 10 panel discussion at the CIO Leadership Conference among Gary Beach, publisher
of CIO magazine; Jim Leto, president and CEO, Robbins-Gioia; Satish Maripuri, COO, Lionbridge; and Alex Kormushoff,
executive vice president and general manager, Worldwide Field Operations.
CIO Magazine Online, May 10, 2005
IBM's Recent Past Holds Lessons for Federal Leaders
The article focuses on IBM's efforts to make its organization more efficient, including eliminating inefficient
business processes and creating new cultural values. The article mentions Robbins-Gioia's recent study, which
noted that government agencies are increasingly keying in on improving business processes; 40 percent of respondents
said they were focused on improving efficiency.
GovExec.com, May 6, 2005
Iraq's Costly Repairs
This news story features Robbins-Gioia customer, Jack Cline, deputy to the commander of Anniston Army Depot.
In the interview, Cline said, “This year, we're going to execute in excess of a billion dollars, and that's a
new environment for us.”
CBS Evening News, May 2, 2005
Comings and Goings
Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Rob Bongiovi was appointed president of Robbins-Gioia's defense division.
Bongiovi previously served as senior vice president and general manager of Air Force operations at
Robbins-Gioia.
Federal Computer Week, May 2, 2005
With or Without Strings
This article by Emory Miller, Robbins-Gioia senior vice president of government affairs, focuses on Federal
funding processes for state and local IT projects. Based on research and interviews with federal and state
CIOs and other executives, the article asserts that few state and local IT officials are happy with how the
federal government funds IT projects. The article goes on to address whether the process should change and how.
Public CIO, May 1, 2005
General assumes a new command
This article features the appointment of Rob Bongiovi to president, defense division, Robbins-Gioia. One
of his goals is helping defense depots “deal with the surge of activity” due to the Iraq and Afghanistan
conflicts. Robbins-Gioia CEO Jim Leto said that Bongiovi’s military experience will make him an asset to
the division.
The Washington Times, April 25, 2005
Give and Get
After training and certification, project managers ultimately learn by doing, which is why mentoring
programs can be invaluable. When senior project leaders share their knowledge and experience with
junior counterparts in a real-world context, both the individual and the organization benefit. The
best programs combine flexibility, follow-through, and recognition. Jennifer Stanford, director of
professional development for project management consultancy Robbins-Gioia, noted "Even if you have
good intentions, you have to look at the mentor program as a project itself. You need a charter and
a program plan or it ends up being a bunch of good ideas with no follow-through. If a mentoring program
is not a high-level priority with senior visibility, it will fall through the cracks."
Projects@Work, April 21, 2005
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Robbins-Gioia Announces Appointment of Maj. Gen. Rob Bongiovi
April 18, 2005
This press release announces the appointment of Maj. Gen. Rob Bongiovi (USAF, Ret.) as president of the
defense division. Bongiovi previously served as senior vice president and general manager of Air Force
operations for Robbins-Gioia. In his new role, Bongiovi will oversee business development, solution delivery,
and operations for Robbins-Gioia's defense division, which supports all services-related work for the company.
The press release appeared in the following publications:
CBS MarketWatch
Yahoo Finance
Forbes
Hoover's Online
Morningstar.com
Finance Canada
Vantage Link
FML eXchange
Greater Richmond Technology Council
Hiploid, Inc.
ITTown.com
Oklahoma City Daily Oklahoman
OpticalKeyhole.com
Potomac Tech Wire
Recruiter.com
SearchTheWeb.com
SecuritySales.com
VaNewswire.com
Virginia Business
WCPO.com
WMSLUK.com
WVEC.com
FaairSearch.com
Armbrust Aviation Group
Crain's Cleveland
DallasNews.com
Keeping Data Flowing – In the quest to build leaner, more nimble agency systems, attention turns to data
To organize data, government agencies must develop common definitions for the types of data agencies possess.
According to OMB, "The data reference model's primary purpose is to promote the common identification, use and
appropriate sharing of data/information across the federal government.” The OMB has tapped Michael Daconta, DHS
metadata program manager, to advance the model. "The management strategy volume will include a section on
governance”, Daconta said. “Industry executives say governance is an important issue, noting that incentives are
needed to foster interagency data sharing and collaboration."
Federal Computer Week, April 18, 2005
Sharing Drives DHS Data Project
DHS plays a pivotal role in the government's effort to improve the sharing of terrorism-related
information among agencies. DHS officials are translating the responsibilities into a data architecture.
The latest data reference model is an important focus for DHS this fiscal year. "It is all about using
reusable components to create our XML exchange packages," said Michael Daconta, DHS metadata program
manager and leader of a working group that is refining the data reference model. He noted that metadata
registries and repositories are maturing and becoming much more affordable.
Federal Computer Week, April 18, 2005
Robbins-Gioia Reveals Emerging Industry Focus on Process Improvement
March 28, 2005
This press release discusses the components of Robbins-Gioia’s Process Refinement and Optimization (PRO)
solution and features supporting quotes from META and Gartner industry analysts. The press release
appeared in the following publications:
CBS Marketwatch
Forbes
Yahoo Finance
Hoover's Online
Morningstar.com
Finance Canada
Vantage Link
FML eXchange
Greater Richmond Technology Council
SecuritySales.com
Virginia Newswire.com
Virginia Business
WMSLUK.com
On the Circuit
This article mentions Jim Leto's participation in the March Federal Information Technology Summit
in Park City, Utah. One topic discussed was GTSI's emergence as one of the first product distribution
companies to comply with DOD RFID technology standards.
Federal
Computer Week, March 28, 2005
Robbins-Gioia Releases Survey Results on Project Offices and Governance
January 24, 2005
A press release based on a Robbins-Gioia survey, "Project Offices and Governance Practices Minimize Project
Redundancy--Reducing Company Costs," found that organizations with established governance practices, processes,
and accountability activities in place showed a lower level of redundant projects and initiatives in their
organizations. The press release appeared in the following publications:
CBS Marketwatch
Dallas Morning News
Finance Canada!
FMLX
MorningStar
Richmond Technology Council
StarWeb
Yahoo! News
Vantage-Link
Virginia Business
Virginia Newswire.com
ANAD Selects Robbins-Gioia as Partener of the Year
Robbins-Gioia LLC, a program-management services company, was selected as the Anniston Army
Depot’s 2004 partner of the year from among 120 competing companies.
"I was very honored when I received the news of our selection," said David Sparrow,
manager of Robbins-Gioia’s Anniston operations. "I believe (the depot) and (Robbins-Gioia) have
formed an outstanding partnership that is second to none, and we look forward to a wealth of
shared successes in the future."
Depot Commander Col. Alexander Raulerson presented the award recently at a depot luncheon.
The Virginia-based company has provided program-management services to the depot for the past
10 years and has long been active in the community.
Robbins-Gioia was a key sponsor for the depot’s Army Emergency Relief Campaign golf tournament
last June and its 5K run, an annual event held last February.
The company also is a corporate member of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce and its military
affairs committee and co-founder of the new Anniston satellite chapter of Redstone Arsenal’s
Association of United States Army chapter. Robbins-Gioia is a private, nonprofit educational
organization that supports the active duty Army, National Guard, reserve, civilians, retirees,
and family members. It has been dedicated to delivering management-consulting solutions to
government agencies and Fortune 500 companies for more than 20 years.
Anniston Star, January 10, 2005
The year ahead in business: Companies eye contracting policies,
Congress and conversation in 2005
Momentum for share-in-savings models is growing in the federal government. While
earlier attempts to introduce the share-in-savings approach have failed to gain support,
the observers say that 2005 could be a pivotal year for the concept. The contracting
method calls for vendors to make more of an upfront investment in projects but allows
them to share in the savings generated. "Today, there is high interest in
share-in-savings," said Emory Miller, senior vice president for government affairs at
Robbins-Gioia. Office of Management and Budget officials have received 45 share-in-savings
business cases for review, which means agency officials are preparing to issue solicitations
based on the paradigm.
Federal
Computer Week, January 10, 2005
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