Partnering
for Lasting Value
NMA
has enjoyed a partnership with The Institute of Certified Managers (ICPM) since
its inception in 1974. Many NMA chapters utilize “Certification” as a benefit of membership. We would like to share
the story of one such chapter.
An
Interview with Pete Scobby, CM,
United
Space Alliance, Houston Chapter
Pete
Scobby became a Certified Manager in 1998 while working at Lockheed Martin Idaho
Technologies in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Pete was part of a class of more than 50
Certified Managers in a well-run program sponsored by NMA Chapter 500.
Pete
has since moved across the country to Houston and has championed the Certified
Manager Program at United Space Alliance. Pete, as president of the NMA Texas
Gulf Coast Council, has also offered the CM program to other area companies.
Pete has combined the successful features of the Idaho program for Texas 2001
managers, but has added several new features offered by ICPM. These include
computer-based testing, bundle pricing and intranet customer service.
These
program changes were needed to accommodate the busy schedules of managers
supporting the Space Shuttle and Station programs. Preparation classes meet for
two hours every other Thursday at the USA Training Academy. The current class is
using the new tutorials they received with the bundle -pricing package.
The
story unfolds in an Interview with Pete Scobby, CM, conducted on Feb. 20, 2001.
Question:
Your group in Idaho Falls was one of the biggest and most successful
programs ever conducted. What's new and different about the program at
United Space Alliance as compared to Lockheed Martin in Idaho Falls?
Answer: "Well, of course the curriculum is fresher. We are using the new course modules
updated since the Idaho class. Our class likes the way the manuals are now
spiral bound so they are easy to use and carry. Our company headquarters is here,
and we have more employee planning and controlling operations. We have a large
number of employees that are project leaders or system administrators, so about 40 percent of our CM class are not managers. USA also conducts a very
successful and more traditional CM program for members that directly work with Space
Shuttle components like the orbiter vehicle, solid rocket boosters, external
tank, and installation of payloads.
Question: What's different about your classes at United Space Alliance?
Answer: Well, we started having small group teams prepare each chapter and make a
presentation to the whole class. We are effectively able to divide the work and
cover all of the material in a fairly short time. The quality of the team
presentations is outstanding. We use computer projection and PowerPoint to
highlight the chapters. Students are actually researching topics on the Web and
bringing new information to the rest of us. Their presentations clearly reflect
their collective management experiences. It's like a competition to see who can
do the best presentation and teach their peers. It's kind of exciting to see
managers take such an interest in their own development. I'm keeping an
electronic file and building a knowledge base of presentations for future use.
My job as the course facilitator is easy, because the group is highly motivated
to prepare for and pass the tests."
Question: What is attracting managers at United Space Alliance to the Certified
Manager Program?
Answer:
I think the convenience and flexibility of the Certified Manager Program
fits into manager’s busy lifestyles. People that are attracted to
certification are high potential employees in our organization. They are busy
managers and leaders at work and in the community. They need flexibility for
classes and testing where they don't have to travel, and they can do it on a
schedule that is convenient to them. The computer-based testing makes it so
convenient for our managers and they really like it."
Question: What's so special about the computer-based testing?
Answer: "The use of computer-based testing has made it so much more
convenient. People love the fact that they can take the test electronically,
whenever they want to in a nice quiet classroom we’ve set up. All they have to
do is sign up and reserve a time for me to proctor the exam. We had our
information management specialist set up the computers and test interfaces with
Drew Koch at ICPM. Our testing center is centrally located for managers that work on and off the Johnson Space
Center."
Our managers like the fact that they get feedback almost that same day. I think I had to wait three weeks and wanted to know if I passed.
They also like the fact that the feedback is personal and totally confidential. The detailed feedback received after the initial e-mail notification is especially useful.
Question: Are people using the Certified Manager Interactive Tutorial?
Answer: "Yes, it's a great help. I think you get two tutorials and a
practice test with feedback for each module. A number of our managers have not
taken a standardized test since college, so the tutorials help to relieve some
of the anxiety associated with adults taking a test. They now have a better idea
of what to expect on the real test."
Question: What has prompted USA to get more active with management certification?
Answer:
USA and other area companies are encouraged by NASA to retain their
workers,
managers that have improved personal and interpersonal skills are
more likely to manage their employees better. USA has a business goal to be the
“company of choice" for out employees. The CM professional development
program directly supports this objective. We use other management training
programs, but this often requires expensive fees and travel to other sites.
These programs are good and very focused on a single subject or area and many of
them start from scratch. The CM Program leverages our managers’ skills and
experience. Prior training is often introduced into our group discussions. The
CM program does not compete with other company provided management development
programs.
Question: What do you mean by starting from scratch?
Answer: "Well some of the courses, start right at the very basics of
supervision and take you through
exercises and information that you learned in business classes and early in your
career. The Certified Manager Program is different. It takes off where you are
as a manager or project leader and reviews that knowledge you have already
accumulated through experience. You don't necessarily learn how to manage. You
enrich your experience by learning why some management techniques work and why
others fail.
Question: Can you elaborate on how the management team at United Space Alliance has
learned the why’s about some management techniques?
Answer: "We invite guest speakers to classes that cover human resources,
legal and finance. Our company attorney made a presentation to the class that
covered many aspects of business law as it relates to our NASA contract. She
also focused on Texas worker compensation requirements. I learned about the
structure of our company in a legal sense. I began to understand why certain
policies had been adopted to comply with laws and government regulations. You
don't necessarily get this information from a typical canned management course."
Question: How does your company benefit front the CM Program?
Answer: “Well, for what you get, it's a great value, I don't know of any other program that has 30 chapters that cover as wide a spectrum of management for the price. The testing with the feedback is much less than what it would cost for a consultant. Relative to other programs the CM program is very reasonably priced. We took advantage of the group bundle pricing and saved the company about 20 percent. When you pay up front, there is no further administrative hassle. Most departments use their credit card. Our internal system of payments and budgets records the transaction in about five minutes, and we don't have to complete a lot of procurement forms to accurately record the transaction."
Question: What is most important thing that United Space Alliance does to recognize
Certified Managers?
Answer: "I think one of the biggest things that really makes a difference is so small that
most places don't even consider it. The NMA chapter pays for framing the
CM certificates. It's worth every penny, and the Certified Managers love
it. We present the award at a staff meeting in front of the Certified Manager's
peers. This type of recognition is resulting in other employees signing up for the CM
program. So much of what goes on at a staff meeting is routine and not as positive.
Our department managers love the fact that they can start out a meeting giving a
meaningful award that recognizes professional growth.
Question:
What do you want the general public to know about the program?
Answer:
"I think this type of program is a great investment that improves
our space program. Anytime you get managers to make a commitment to professional development
like this you are building a high performance organization. The ICPM Code of
Ethics helps to reinforce our own company
ethics program. I think our people take their jobs seriously and are more in
tune with what it means to be a responsible professional manager. The CM program
has revitalized an important aspect of our professional development program.”
For
additional information on Certification contact ICPM at 800-568-4120 or
e-mail: icpmcm@jmu.edu
Article reprinted from the Spring 2001 issue of The Certified Letter published by ICPM