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Best Practices: SSA Program Manager Development Practices
Developing a cadre of highly skilled, trained, and qualified program managers to support program and project success
Executive Summary
The Social Security Administration (SSA) performs essentially all IT program work in-house with a predominately Federal workforce utilizing SSA-owned and operated infrastructure and systems. It is from within the SSA Federal employee workforce of about 3,500 that SSA cultivates and develops IT program and project managers.
In April 2007, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) issued a memorandum titled ‘The Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers’. The memorandum prompted SSA to formalize and expand existing Project/Program Management (PM) development initiatives.
Today’s program managers must not only master traditional core competencies, but also conquer a whole host of new challenges and pressures. Without recognizing factors and influences facing IT programs, providing the tools and training needed for success, and identifying and developing the most talented cadre of managers, poor outcomes are near certain.
SSA’s commitment to program management excellence is strong and institutionalized. Program management development programs are sought out by SSA’s best and brightest, and have produced highly effective program managers.
This document discusses challenges with program and project management, SSA’s efforts to formalize project management certifications within the Agency, and the impact it has had on SSA’s programs.
