-PDF Download- Assessment Of The Results Of External Independent Reviews For Us Department Of Energy Projects EBOOK

Assessment of the Results of External Independent Reviews for U.S. Department of Energy Projects

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-05-10

Total Pages: 74

ISBN-13: 0309106397

Peer review is an essential component of engineering practice and other scientific and technical undertakings. Peer reviews are conducted to ensure that activities are technically adequate, competently performed, and properly documented; to validate assumptions, calculations, and extrapolations; and to assess alternative interpretations, methodologies, acceptance criteria, and other aspects of the work products and the documentation that support them. Effective peer reviews are conducted in an environment of mutual respect, recognizing the contributions of all participants. Their primary objective is to help the project team achieve its goals. Reviews also contribute to quality assurance, risk management, and overall improvement of the management process. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conducts different types of peer reviews at the different stages of a project, including reviews to assess risks and other factors related to design, safety, cost estimates, value engineering, and project management. Independent project reviews (IPRs) are conducted by federal staff not directly affiliated with the project or program and management and operations (M&O) contractors. External independent reviews (EIRs) are overseen by the Office of Engineering and Construction Management and conducted by contractors external to the department. EIRs are the primary focus of this report. However, the committee found that, in many cases, IPRs are explicitly used as preparation for or as preliminary reviews prior to EIRs. Thus, because IPRs are integral to the review process in DOE, they are also discussed because they might have an effect on EIRs. In October 2000, DOE issued Order 413.3, Program and Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets (DOE, 2000). The order established a series of five critical decisions (CDs), or major milestones, that require senior management review and approval to ensure that a project satisfies applicable mission, design, security, and safety requirements: approve mission need, approve alternative selection and cost range, approve performance baseline, approve start of construction, and approve start of operations or project closeout. Assessment of the Results of External Independent Reviews for U. S. Department of Energy Projects summarizes the results.

Measuring Performance and Benchmarking Project Management at the Department of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2005-08-01

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 0309181763

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

In 1997, Congress, in the conference report, H.R. 105-271, to the FY1998 Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill, directed the National Research Council (NRC) to carry out a series of assessments of project management at the Department of Energy (DOE). The final report in that series noted that DOE lacked an objective set of measures for assessing project management quality. The department set up a committee to develop performance measures and benchmarking procedures and asked the NRC for assistance in this effort. This report presents information and guidance for use as a first step toward development of a viable methodology to suit DOE's needs. It provides a number of possible performance measures, an analysis of the benchmarking process, and a description ways to implement the measures and benchmarking process.

Progress in Improving Project Management at the Department of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-03-30

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 030916639X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

In 1997, Congress, in the conference report, H.R. 105-271, to the FY1998 Energy and Water Development Appropriation Bill, directed the NRC to carry out a series of assessments of project management at the Department of Energy (DOE). This report, the 2003 Assessment, is the final one in that series. It presents an examination of DOE's progress in improving program management over the past three years including the Department's response to the recommendations of the previous assessments in this series. In addition to assessing DOE's progress, the report also describes opportunities for further improvement and gives a prognosis for future developments.

Independent Research Assessment of Project Management Factors Affecting Department of Energy Success

Author: Civil Engineering Research Foundation

Publisher: ASCE Publications

Published: 2005-01-01

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13: 9780784475621

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation. This report presents the findings of a research study to improve the project management undertaken by the U.S. Department of Energy. It identifies key components affecting project performance, evaluates performance factors, measures, and metrics in relation to their correlation with project success; and makes recommendations with regard to improving performance on different types of projects. Sixteen projects were selected by the DOE Office of Engineering and Construction Management, and then examined by the independent research team, which grouped and prioritized factors affecting success and formulated recommendations.

Assessing the Need for Independent Project Reviews in the Department of Energy

Author: Board on Infrastructure

Publisher:

Published:

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Improving Project Management in the Department of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1999-10-22

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 0309066263

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The U.S. Department of Energy has been at the center of many of the greatest achievements in science and engineering in this century. DOE spends billions of dollars funding projects-and plans to keep on spending at this rate. But, documentation shows that DOE's construction and environmental remediation projects take much longer and cost 50% more than comparable projects undertaken by other federal agencies, calling into question DOE's procedures and project management. What are the root causes for these problems?

U.S. Department of Energy Performance and Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2000

Author:

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published:

Total Pages: 313

ISBN-13: 1428918337

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Measuring Performance and Benchmarking Project Management at the Department of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2005-09-01

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13: 0309097088

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-11-03

Total Pages: 90

ISBN-13: 0309266262

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Research and development (R&D) organizations are operated by government, business, academe, and independent institutes. The success of their parent organizations is closely tied to the success of these R&D organizations. In this report, organizations refers to an organization that performs research and/or development activities (often a laboratory), and parent refers to the superordinate organization of which the R&D organization is a part. When the organization under discussion is formally labeled a laboratory, it is referred to as such. The question arises: How does one know whether an organization and its programs are achieving excellence in the best interests of its parent? Does the organization have an appropriate research staff, facilities, and equipment? Is it doing the right things at high levels of quality, relevance, and timeliness? Does it lead to successful new concepts, products, or processes that support the interests of its parent? This report offers assessment guidelines for senior management of organizations and of their parents. The report lists the major principles of assessment, noting that details will vary from one organization to another. It provides sufficient information to inform the design of assessments, but it does not prescribe precisely how to perform them, because different techniques are needed for different types of organizations. Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations covers three key factors that underpin the success of an R&D organization: (1) the mission of the organization and its alignment with that of the parents; (2) the relevance and impact of the organization's work; and (3) the resources provided to the organization, beginning with a high-quality staff and management.

Progress in Improving Project Management at the Department of Energy

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2002-01-31

Total Pages: 141

ISBN-13: 0309082803

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Department of Energy (DOE) is engaged in numerous multimillion- and even multibillion-dollar projects that are one of a kind or first of a kind and require cutting-edge technology. The projects represent the diverse nature of DOE's missions, which encompass energy systems, nuclear weapons stewardship, environmental restoration, and basic research. Few other government or private organizations are challenged by projects of a similar magnitude, diversity, and complexity. To complete these complex projects on schedule, on budget, and in scope, the DOE needs highly developed project management capabilities. This report is an assessment of the status of project management in the Department of Energy as of mid-2001 and the progress DOE has made in this area since the National Research Council (NRC) report Improving Project Management in the Department of Energy (Phase II report) was published in June 1999.