U.S. Coast Guard Telecommunications Project Management Using the StructuredApproach Model

摘要

The U.S. Coast Guard has been continuously asked to perform more missions withless resources. Technological advances in telecommunications and information systems accessibility have played a major role in the Coast Guard meeting these challenges. However, to meet new demands for even greater efficiency and effectiveness, the Coast Guard strategy for tighter interoperability between Coast Guard commands must continue to evolve. To support this evolution, the Command, Control, and Communication Branch of the Coast Guard must use a strategy for project management that will foster greater efficiency and effectiveness. This strategy should include a standardized approach to project management that fosters communication, attention to detail, and leads to interoperability of systems through standardization without extensively limiting creativity or use of technological advances. This paper demonstrates how the use of systems thinking, and in particular the Structured Approach Model, can encourage the management characteristics that will lead to the development of more effective telecommunications projects and completion of those projects in a more efficient manner. This paper explains the seven phases of the Structured Approach Model and views each using the functional, organizational, and physical prospectives. Steps for applying the model are given and are aimed at the Coast Guard project officer.