Program and Project Management Development Framework
The Program and Project Management Development Framework guides practitioners through the steps to build a successful career in program and project management at NASA, identifying the APPEL KS courses and development activities that can support them and grow their competencies as they move from team practitioner to team lead, project manager, and finally program manager. Terminology and responsibilities can vary by center: In cases where center titles differ from those listed, focus on the substance of the role to find appropriate learning and development opportunities.
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Team Practitioner
Role Definition: Practitioners who demonstrate an awareness and understanding of NASA’s project management (PM) tools, techniques, and lexicon. They have obtained a working knowledge of project management concepts and tools and have performed tasks and activities to support and contribute to a project.
Click here to view Center Resources and Activities.
For a current list of course offerings available, please visit our Course Catalog.
CURATED CURRICULA
RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Obtain a mentor: working with your local Center resources
- Dan Rasky: Mentor & Apprentice Work Model
- ASK Magazine: Getting the Most from Your Mentor
- Charlie Bolden and Johann-Dietrich Wörner on mentors
- John Mather and Dennis McCarthy on mentors
Demonstrate working knowledge of policy documents:
- NPR 7120.5
- NPR 7123.1
- NPD 7120.6
- NPR 7120.8 (NASA Only)
- NASA Program and Project Management Handbook
- Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirements
Join national and international affiliations or technical bodies:
Engage with IAF’s Young Professionals (YP) Workshops
Capture critical technical knowledge:
Explore the knowledge work taking place throughout NASA:
- Review APPEL KS Competency Models for expected proficiencies, skills, and fundamental knowledge of each career level.
- APPEL KS Knowledge Videos
- Explore NASA’s Lessons Learned Information System (NASA Only)
- Review NASA Lessons Learned Repositories
- APPEL KS Small Steps, Giant Leaps Podcast
- APPEL KS INSIGHT Articles
- Explore Case Studies – GSFC Repository (NASA Only)
- Explore Case Studies – APPEL
- Explore Case Studies – NSC (NASA Only)
Team Lead
Role Definition: Practitioners who have participated in or led PM activities such as requirements development, budget and schedule development, and risk management. They demonstrate the application of PM tools, techniques, and lexicon at the project subsystem level, including use of PM best practices.
Click here to view Center Resources and Activities.
For a current list of course offerings available, please visit our Course Catalog.
CURATED CURRICULA
RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Obtain a mentor: working with your local Center resources
- Dan Rasky: Mentor & Apprentice Work Model
- ASK Magazine: Getting the Most from Your Mentor
- Charlie Bolden and Johann-Dietrich Wörner on mentors
- John Mather and Dennis McCarthy on mentors
- Author a paper on Project Management
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Masters with Masters series
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Virtual PM Challenge sessions
Demonstrate working knowledge of policy documents:
- NPR 7120.5
- NPR 7123.1
- NPD 7120.6
- NPR 7120.8 (NASA Only)
- NASA Program and Project Management Handbook
- Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirements
Join national and international affiliations or technical bodies:
Engage with IAF’s Young Professionals (YP) Workshops
Capture critical technical knowledge:
Explore the knowledge work taking place throughout NASA:
- Review APPEL KS Competency Models for expected proficiencies, skills, and fundamental knowledge of each career level.
- APPEL KS Knowledge Videos
- Explore NASA’s Lessons Learned Information System (NASA Only)
- Review NASA Lessons Learned Repositories
- APPEL KS Small Steps, Giant Leaps Podcast
- APPEL KS INSIGHT Articles
- Explore Case Studies – GSFC Repository (NASA Only)
- Explore Case Studies – APPEL
- Explore Case Studies – NSC (NASA Only)
Project Manager
Role Definition: Practitioners who have taken a significant leadership role in multiple phases of a project life cycle, managing programmatic aspects of a project that would prepare them for a leadership role in support of a major system or project. They demonstrate the integration of PM tools, techniques, and best practices across systems at the project level.
Click here to view Center Resources and Activities.
For a current list of course offerings available, please visit our Course Catalog.
CURATED CURRICULA
RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Obtain a mentor: working with your local Center resources
- Dan Rasky: Mentor & Apprentice Work Model
- ASK Magazine: Getting the Most from Your Mentor
- Charlie Bolden and Johann-Dietrich Wörner on mentors
- John Mather and Dennis McCarthy on mentors
- Author a paper on Project Management
- Explore NASA case studies on project manager dilemmas and decision making
- Review monthly PMI’s Learning Page for program and project management trends, webinars, and resources
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Masters with Masters series
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Virtual PM Challenge sessions
Demonstrate working knowledge of policy documents:
Join national and international affiliations or technical bodies:
Engage with IAF’s Young Professionals (YP) Workshops
Capture critical technical knowledge:
Explore the knowledge work taking place throughout NASA:
- Review APPEL KS Competency Models for expected proficiencies, skills, and fundamental knowledge of each career level.
- APPEL KS Knowledge Videos
- Explore NASA’s Lessons Learned Information System (NASA Only)
- Review NASA Lessons Learned Repositories
- APPEL KS Small Steps, Giant Leaps Podcast
- APPEL KS INSIGHT Articles
- Explore Case Studies – GSFC Repository (NASA Only)
- Explore Case Studies – APPEL
- Explore Case Studies – NSC (NASA Only)
Program Manager
Role Definition: Practitioners who have contributed to agency goals and who are effective in managing programmatic and strategic interactions both internal and external to the agency. They have demonstrated superior competencies in the formulation and implementation of programs, management of program resources, and oversight of project implementation activities in support of agency missions.
Click here to view Center Resources and Activities.
For a current list of course offerings available, please visit our Course Catalog.
CURATED CURRICULA
RECOMMENDED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
Become a mentor: work with your local Center resources
- Explore NASA case studies on project manager dilemmas and decision making
- Review monthly PMI’s Learning Page for program and project management trends, webinars, and resources
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Masters with Masters series
- Identify PM best practices by reviewing NASA’s Virtual PM Challenge sessions
Demonstrate working knowledge of policy documents:
- NPR 7120.5
- NPR 7123.1
- NPD 7120.6
- NPR 7120.8 (NASA Only)
- NASA Program and Project Management Handbook
- Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirements
Join national and international affiliations or technical bodies:
Engage with IAF’s Young Professionals (YP) Workshops
Capture critical technical knowledge:
Explore the knowledge work taking place throughout NASA:
- Review APPEL KS Competency Models for expected proficiencies, skills, and fundamental knowledge of each career level.
- APPEL KS Knowledge Videos
- Explore NASA’s Lessons Learned Information System (NASA Only)
- Review NASA Lessons Learned Repositories
- APPEL KS Small Steps, Giant Leaps Podcast
- APPEL KS INSIGHT Articles
- Explore Case Studies – GSFC Repository (NASA Only)
- Explore Case Studies – APPEL
- Explore Case Studies – NSC (NASA Only)