Make It Work or Make It Go Away

Book excerpt: DoD programs are, at once, the most challenging and the most critical endeavors that will take place in the United States – now and for years to come. The success of DoD programs depends on the thoroughness and professionalism of the contracts which direct their creation and operation. DoD contracts must reflect, in the scope of work to be done, the measuring criteria, the governing management structure, robust strategies of risk management, due diligence, synergy, innovation, feedback, follow-up, and accountability. The International Standards Organization (ISO) Family of management and auditing standards are a tremendous “Value-add” to developing and managing a DoD program. The same measuring criteria used to keep a program going can tell the program manager when it should be cancelled. DoD programs need input and guidance from warfighters, whose lives depend on program success. “Politics” makes for bad programs and bad results; and the selection of contractors based essentially on affiliations with members of Congress can lead to mission failure; maybe even loss of life.