Assessment of the Program and Project Management Processes. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division

Abstract : The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible, through its Directorate of Civil Works, for the planning, design, construction, and operation of civil works projects. Through its Directorate of Military Programs, it also manages the design and construction of major facilities and infrastructure to support the Army and other DoD and international programs. Two years ago, U.S. ACE adopted a customer-focused program and project management philosophy to ensure the timely delivery of cost-effective, quality products and services. This report conveys the results of a task to evaluate how effectively the Corps Great Lakes and Ohio River Division has implemented that philosophy and to identify areas in which the LRD and its subordinate districts could improve. The study compared the LRD business processes to those consistent with the tenets of project management endorsed by the Project Management Institute and best-in-class firms and organizations using modem project management business practices. The study found many examples of sound, and sometimes innovative, project management practices within the LRD. However, they vary significantly among LRD's seven districts. The report identifies and recommends practices that offer the LRD opportunities for improving project delivery performance and increasing customer satisfaction.