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What is the TPMM?
Is the TPMM a computer application?
What benefits does the TPMM provide?
How did TPMM get started?
What is a Stage-Gate process?
My program is different. Can the TPMM model be tailored to work for me?
Who can I contact for more information on TPMM?
What is the TPMM?
TPMM is a Technology
Readiness Level (TRL)-based stage-gate process model that contains
engineered criteria, tailorable to any given technology development
program. It is a management model that focuses on the full activity set
(e.g. programmatics, systems engineering, transition management,
verification) that can be used by a technology program manager to manage
their technical development program to transition to an Acquisition
Customer. Every activity contributes to the technology product. The
results of each activity are documented by one or more deliverables in
any given phase - no superfluous activities.
The model
infrastructure has been built such that it:
- Defines each
TRL as a phase (stage)
- Establishes
Exit criteria (gate) for each TRL
- Reinforces
System Engineering Principles
- Aligns to
Enterprise Development Process (DoD 5000)
- Focuses on
successful transitioning
- Provides the
criteria supporting Technology Transition Agreements
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Is the TPMM a computer application?
Not yet. We are
in the development phase of transferring that model criteria data set
into a relational database which will then drive the further development
of a computer application. These items are being developed and tested in
cooperation with various S&T organizations at the enterprise level. With
that said, the model itself is still a viable and validated tool that
can and is being used to conduct TRAs, develop Technology Transition
Agreements, develop Technology Development Strategies (TDS), and TDS to
Acq Strategy roadmaps not to mention old fashion technology development
and management (TRL roadmap), just to name a few. The database
architecture coupled with the model taxonomy has become a very powerful
tool and once the application can be realized it will be able to provide
portfolio and enterprise level data in support of key technology
decisions at all levels.
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What benefits does the TPMM provide?
TPMM benefits
include:
- Confidence in
the estimation of the maturity (Technology Readiness Assessment
results)
- Establishes a
common language set for TRL interpretation
- Reduces risk
of failure to transition by improving customer management:
- Increases
customer involvement early in the development process
- Increases
customer involvement throughout the development process
- Increases
customer support through better communication and standardization
- Increases
customer committment through Transistion Agreements at multiple
phases
- Increases
customer credibility through improved documentation process
- Point
solutions for immediate needs
:
- Technology
Program Reviews (TPR)
- Internal
Technology Readiness Assessments (TRA)
- Technology
Advancement Assessments (TAA)
- Technology
Transition Agreements (TTA)
- Technology
Development Strategies (TDS)
- TDS to
Acquisition Strategy Roadmaps
- TRL
Roadmaps
- Audit
Trails for compliance needs
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How did TPMM get started?
TPMM was
initially developed at the SMDC by the Tech Center director to assist
Technology Developers in the management of their tech programs. What he
saw happening was that:
- Transition was
an afterthought
- Technologist
still tinkering with their technology when the Acq Program needed it
- Tech Managers
didn’t have clear goals established to know when they were finished
- Or simply not
knowing when technology was needed
TPMM attempted to
alleviate these issues by the incorporation of Systems Engineering
and Programmatic principles and practices with Transition Management in
a stage-gated process for (TRL-based) maturity assessment. The TPMM
resolves to do the following:
-
Transition has to
be part of the development process
-
Transition
activities occur early in TRL phases
-
Incorporate Best
Practice: - Technology Transition Agreement (TTA) :
-
Includes
All stakeholders early in development process
-
Facilitates
early transition management
-
Provides
Accountability and Buy-In
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What
is a Stage-Gate process?
A Stage-Gate process
is one in which the work is done in distinct phases. Each phase is a
"Stage". During a Stage, money is allocated for that phase and work is
performed. Each Stage has specific characteristics against which it is
measured to determine if that phase has been completed. These
characteristics include Deliverables, Funding Allocation, Metrics, and
Goals (Exit Criteria). Once a phase is completed (Deliverables
delivered, Funding spent, Goals met, Metrics satisfied), then a decision
must be made whether to move forward with the program. This is the
"Gate". Each Gate is a decision point for the program to move to the
next stage and is typified by a program review. The TPMM gate is the
Technology Program Review (TPR), which is comprised of two individual
assessments. The first is a Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) which
determines whether the program has achieved a specific Readiness Level.
The second is a Technology Advancement Assessment (TAA), which validates
the planning function for the next phase. The outcome of the TAA is a
decision to either a) Go to the next stage; b) Kill the program; c) Hold
the program; or d) Recycle the program back into the current stage to
satisfy some unsatisfied criteria. Once a decision to go forward to the
next Stage has been made, funding must be allocated, deliverables
defined, and Goals and Metrics specified for that Stage. Then the work
for that Stage commences. The TPMM uses the TRL gates as the basis for
each Stage of its Stage-Gate Process.
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My program is different. Can the TPMM model
be tailored to work for me?
Absolutely. The
steps involved in tailoring the TPMM have been drawn from the results of
multiple successful pilot programs. These steps are iterated below:
-
Understand the
Program
-
Capture "As Is"
Current Behavior
-
Map-to and Tailor
the TPMM. This eliminates those TPMM functions that clearly do not
pertain to the program. (e.g. if the program has no software, the
software-specific functions would be eliminated from the criteria set.
-
Establish the
tailored criteria set for the specific Technology Program
-
Status the
criteria set
-
Conduct a Gap
Analysis
-
Populate Exit Criteria and Deliverables Table
-
Conduct the
Technology Program Review (for each phase)
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Who can I contact for more information on TPMM?
For more information, please fill out this short form or contact
either:
Mr. Jeff Craver
Defense Acquisition University
Southern Campus
E-mail:
Jeffrey.Craver@DAU.mil
Voice: 256-895-3453
or
U.S. Army Space &
Missile Defense Command Public Affairs Office
Huntsville, Ala. 35807-3801
Voice: 256-955-3887
or
Mr. Michael
Ellis
DMD, LLC
360B Quality Circle
Huntsville, AL 35806
E-mail: Mike.Ellis@DMDGroupInc.com
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