A Powerfully Simple Planning Framework

December, 2024

The December 2024 tech talk was presented by Dr. Brad Hodgins

Abstract

Using this very effective five-step approach, teams and individuals can create a detailed plan that will enable them to track their progress as they execute that plan. Organizations run on schedules and commitments. Customers and managers need to know the status of your work. To accurately report your status, you need to have a measurable plan. This presentation will describe the steps taken in the planning framework of the Team Process Integration (TPI) methodology. These steps include conceptual design (breaking a problem down into smaller parts) and other best practices such as relative sizing and earned value. The execution of the steps will be illustrated with an example throughout the presentation, resulting in the creation of a plan that contains the tasks that need to be done and the planned pace of completion of those tasks.

About the Presenter 

Brad Hodgins is a computer scientist and has been supporting Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for over 40 years. He has over 20 years’ experience developing simulation and avionics software. He has spent the last 20 years as a project planning and tracking coach and as an instructor for the Performance Resource Team (PRT), actively coaching project teams in the development of high-quality products for on-time, on-budget delivery to the fleet.

Brad has developed expertise and a national reputation in process improvement. During his time with the PRT, Brad has given over two dozen presentations at symposiums and conferences, and has authored/ co-authored half a dozen published articles and papers, all sharing the great things NAVAIR has been doing.

In 2008, Brad was given a Navy patent for the Learning Applying Mastering Perfecting (LAMP) model for team process implementation evaluation and improvement. He was awarded the Michelson Laboratory Award in 2010, and he became a NAVAIR Associate Fellow in 2013. Brad earned a Doctorate in computer science from Colorado Technical University in 2018. He retired from government service in 2019, but continues to support NAVAIR as an employee of Saalex Solutions Inc.

Brad is a Taurus and likes surfing (just kidding about the surfing).

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