tkt8763-01: Assignment #7

[Christopher & Raydene Wolney <wolney@ebicom.net>]

It is my belief that the answer to assignment #7 is analogous to a 
Technology Plan itself. The best solution to the answer is not going to 
come from me or you but from all of us. As such I will begin to formulate 
some methods and/or techniques to evaluate the components of a Technology 
Plan requested of us. Please everybody let us all respond and input our 
ideas to create an effective model and stately.

Assignment #7: Begin developing a model and an underlying strategy for 
evaluating effectiveness of:

The Written Plan
1. Was Plan written by a committee?
2. Was committee made up of all stakeholders?
3. Does Plan have clearly written goals?
4. Does Plan have a mission statement and a vision of how to get there?
5. Does Plan have a method of evaluation and assessment?
6. Does Plan have an analysis of costs which cover acquiring technology, 
implementing technology, and maintaining technology?
7. Was a Needs Assessment done prior to writing the plan?
8. What are the details of the Needs Assessment?
9. Are needs of differently abled people taken into account?
10. How does the plan spell out its own implementation?

The Planning Process
1. Are all stakeholders included in its planning?
2. Was a detailed Needs Assessment conducted at the beginning of the 
process?
3. After a Needs Assessment was complete were goals established?
4. After establishment of goals, was a mission and vision agreed upon?
5. Is the mission, vision, and goals clearly written. Between the three, 
they should answer, Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
6. Were several courses of action of how to proceed with the plan 
developed?
7. Was the benefits and detriments of each course of action discussed?
8. After analysis of each course of action were they compared?
9. Was the optimal course of action decided on and all energy put into 
making that course of action succeed?
10. Was the chosen course of action refined and developed?
11. Was the chosen course of action "wargamed" by looking at its cause and 
effect of its implementation?
12. After "wargaming" were the results written into the plan?
13. Was the plan distributed to all stakeholders?
14. If stakeholders, had concerns/questions what is the process of their 
review?

Implementation
1. Is a group put together where the specifics of the plan discussed?
2. Once discussed are stakeholders allowed to brief back somebody to ensure 
plan is understood?
3. Are critical implementation issues of the plan rehearsed?
4. Is another brief back scheduled to implement changes encountered in 
rehearsal?
5. Is periodic assessments/evaluations planned so all can see if plan is 
succeeding according to its mission, vision, and goals?
6. Are the results of the assessments made public and discussed in an open 
forum?
7. How are the results of the assessment implemented into the original 
plan?
8. Are changes to the plan discussed in the form described above?

Human Intercommunications Techniques
1. How do users of the plan communicate their needs to the writers of the 
plan?
2. How do writers of the plan communicate their ideas to the users of the 
plan?
3. Are new individuals schooled in the plan?
4. How are concerns/questions about the plan brought to the forefront?
5. Are meetings held where concerns are surfaced, decided upon, written 
into the plan, and acted upon?

Institutional Policies Supporting Technology Efforts
1. Is the plan in concurrence with higher policies and procedures?
2. What method will higher elements use to support and implement the plan?
3. Is higher supervisors briefed on the plan and allowed to add their 
input/concerns?
5. How are policies addressed in the plan? Were they "wargamed" originally 
in the plan?

The Evaluation Process
1. Can any stakeholder input concerns into the plan?
2. What is the process of inputting concerns?
3. Is there a systematic process of dealing with questions and concerns?
4. What is the process by which concerns are dealt with?
5. How are concerns discussed and potentially eventually put back into the 
plan?
6. How are changes in the plan put into action?
7. Are changes "wargamed" to ensure that changes do not prevent other parts 
of the plan's success?

What I have described here is called the Military Decision Making 
Process(MDMP). Now before that turns some of you off, understand that my 
last email regarding the similarities between IDI, books, and SIP are all 
version of the MDMP or the MDMP is a version of one of these. That is not a 
concern just suffice it to say, that we use this plan when dealing with the 
lives of people. I believe it to be a very effective process when used 
correctly. Its format follows but is of no use unless all stakeholders are 
involved. In addition, stakeholders must look at each of the following 
areas or specific stakeholders need to become experts in the following 
areas:

Areas:
Personnel-how will plan effect people
Technology-how will plan be effected by current technology
Operations-how will plan be written, implemented, and evaluated
Logistics-what resource issues are there with implementing the plan
Communications-how will technology communicate with itself

The Decision Making Process: with respect to technology planning
Mission Analysis
1. Inputs: Facts, Assumptions, Constraints, Limitations, Higher mission and 
intent.
2. Products: Restated mission of organization, goals, and vision

Course of Action (COA) Development:
1. Inputs: Products from Mission Analysis
2. Products: several Courses of Action of how to proceed. Briefs of COAs so 
all understand.

Course of Action Analysis and Comparison:
1. Inputs: Products of COA Development
2. Process: Compare COAs, Determine decision criteria, weight criteria, 
make recommendation.
3. Products: Detailed Course of Action which is selected, Critical events 
and decision points, detailed logistic, personnel, and communication 
requirements
.
Decision and Execution:
1. Inputs: Products from COA analysis and comparison
2. Product: Technology Plan

Evaluation:
1. Inputs: Any input from any stakeholder
2. Process: The above four steps.
3. Product: A revised technology plan.

For all who made it this far, this is my first pitch to answer assignment 
#7. We all gravitate to what we know and this is what I know. This may be 
the wrong answer in the civilian sector. It may not be convertible. 
However, I hope this gives all some insight to complete Assignment #7. 
Please reply to what I have said and tell me points you agree with, you 
disagree with, or areas that you may not understand due to may inability to 
explain appropriately.

Chris Wolney

Shoot, Move, and Communicate
Armor, The Combat Arm of Decision!

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