Adopting Integrated Processes to Enhance Test and Evaluation Program Management Communications

摘要

The test and evaluation (T&E) community of practice has long recognized the less-than-optimal communications and misunderstanding that exist between T&E and program management (T&EPM) as a real concern. To address this issue, the author used a case-study research approach and explored existing literature to gain greater insight into the issue. The objective was to find similarities in PM practices that add value to achieving customer satisfaction, from different approaches adopted by test program teams, and identify the critical dimensions. By using systemigram models, the author conceptualizes and demonstrates how the critical dimensions are interrelated with T&E processes, entities, and links as a T&EPM model to enhance test project communications. The model emphasizes information sharing and common understanding as critical elements for achieving test program objectives. This article extends the existing research by presenting a T&EPM model to provide a new framework for implementing a systems approach to test program management.