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Leveraging Independent Management and Chief Engineer Hierarchy: Vertically and Horizontally-Derived Technical Authority ValueIn the development of complex spacecraft missions, project management authority is usually extended hierarchically from NASA's highest agency levels down to the implementing institution's project team level, through both the center and the program. In parallel with management authority, NASA utilizes a complementary, but independent, hierarchy of technical authority (TA) that extends from the agency level to the project, again, through both the center and the program. The chief engineers (CEs) who serve in this technical authority capacity oversee and report on the technical status and ensure sound engineering practices, controls, and management of the projects and programs. At the lowest level, implementing institutions assign project CEs to technically engage projects, lead development teams, and ensure sound technical principles, processes, and issue resolution. At the middle level, programs and centers independently use CEs to ensure the technical success of their projects and programs. At the agency level, NASA's mission directorate CEs maintain technical cognizance over every program and project in their directorate and advise directorate management on the technical, cost, schedule, and programmatic health of each. As part of this vertically-extended CE team, a program level CE manages a continually varying balance between penetration depth and breadth across his or her assigned missions. Teamwork issues and information integration become critical for management at all levels to ensure value-added use of both the synergy available between CEs at the various agency levels, and the independence of the technical authority at each organization.
Document ID
20120014193
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Barley, Bryan (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Newhouse, Marilyn (Computer Sciences Corp. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
February 22, 2012
Subject Category
Administration And Management
Report/Patent Number
M12-1571
Meeting Information
Meeting: Ninth Annual NASA Project Management Challenge 2012
Location: Orlando, Fl
Country: United States
Start Date: February 22, 2012
End Date: February 23, 2012
Sponsors: NASA Headquarters
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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