Presentation: Panel: Misuse of WBS
Abstract: The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a well-known tool for aiding in defining the total scope of any project, program, or portfolio. Its use is considered the foundation for good management, the basis for collecting data, the means for defining and expressing the specific outcomes of a project – their end products and results, and ultimately the cornerstone for communicating with the stakeholders on a project, program or portfolio.
But what can go wrong in this process? Why are work breakdown structures so hard to define and why does everyone have a different opinion of how they should be created – given their use is to identify the outcomes of the project? What makes up a WBS and is it process oriented, product oriented, results oriented or does it reflect how the project is managed, developed or delivered? Given the fluidity of these questions, is the 100% rule always required; and what happens when new technology and innovative concepts for creating, building, and delivering are infused into a project? Does that change the WBS? These and other topics of WBS use and misuse will be discussed at this session.
Biography: Neil F. Albert has over 38 years of professional experience working, managing and leading multiple government and industry service organizations supporting the Departments of Defense, Energy, Transportation, Homeland Security; other Federal agencies including NASA, FAA, and NOAA; and the Intelligence Community, His key areas of capability include strategic planning, program and acquisition management, cost/schedule analysis, cost estimating and financial analysis, program performance and risk assessment.
Currently as President/CEO of NFA Consulting, LLC, he provides support to numerous government program offices and industry service providers who require advice and analysis on strategic organizational needs, acquisition support, program management improvement, and cost/financial analysis.
Previously Mr. Albert was CEO/Vice Chairman of the Board of MCR, LLC, where he was responsible for the company’s strategic vision planning and execution, guiding and aligning corporate activities with business development, senior leaders, and staff to focus on increasing and improving the company’s international, intelligence, and federal agency capabilities and offerings.
Prior to that, Mr. Albert was President/CEO of MCR, LLC where he directed and managed all aspects of the company including corporate operations as well as the business operations of its three wholly owned subsidiaries. In this role he supported government and industry customers by providing integrated program management activities including cost estimating and analysis, acquisition and program management support, earned value management, contract management, funds management, systems engineering, software acquisition, logistics, and education and training.
His earlier career included leading all estimating, pricing, and cost analysis activities at Textron Defense Systems, developing an automated financial system for the Corps of Engineers, and management and budget analyst at Computer Sciences Corporation.
Mr. Albert has been a leader in numerous associations and organizations including a founding member of the Defense Business Board (reports to the Secretary of Defense) in 2002; President of the National Estimating Society, Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis, College of Performance Management, and PMI’s Earned Value Management Community of Practice. He serves on the Executive Committees of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Integrated Program Management Division and Professional Services Council (PSC). He is Chairman of PSC’s Defense and Intelligence Executive Council, and on the Board of Trustees of Fountain Valley School of Colorado Springs. He was also Associate Director of the Energy Facility Contractors Group.
Mr. Albert has received numerous recognitions including “Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service” from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the highest award a private citizen can receive from Department of Defense (2008, 2014); the “Hans Driessnack Distinguished Service Award” from the College of Performance Management, for making major contributions to project and performance management, earned value management, policy, concepts, and practices that have national and global implications.(2013); The “Frank Freiman Lifetime Achievement Award”, from the International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA), its highest honor (2010); and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA), its highest honor (2005). He is a Certified Cost Analyst/Estimator, International Cost Estimating and Analysis Association (ICEAA).
Mr. Albert has a MBA in Business/Financial Management and a BBA in Finance/Economics from The George Washington University.
