Craig Killough Vice President of Organization Markets Project Management Institute

Project Management Institute (PMI), one of the world’s largest  not-for-profit membership associations for the project management profession, testified last week before the United States House of  Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on  Oversight and Management Efficiency. The testimony highlighted lessons  learned in PMI’s latest research on how the Department of Homeland  Security (DHS) can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its  programs.
 
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security faces unique challenges due to the complexity of its variables, the high-risk nature of its initiatives and the high-profile ramifications of its outcomes,” said Craig  Killough, vice president of organization markets for PMI. “Improving the  execution of its programs can help DHS reduce errors; mitigate waste,  fraud and abuse; and ensure greater efficiency in its ongoing mission to  protect American citizens from foreign and domestic security threats.”
 
Killough called for the federal government to adopt the characteristics  of high-performing organizations by creating a job classification for  all project and program managers, expanding current IT project and  program management career paths government wide, and utilizing program  management standards for developing standard practices and processes. He  cited PMI’s 2013 Pulse of the ProfessionTM  report, which finds that high-performing organizations<those with 80  percent of projects meeting original goals and business intent<risk 14  times less than low-performing organizations due to the adoption of best  practices and standards in project and program management.

“Organizations and governmental bodies that use consistently applied program management standards and qualified program managers are more successful than organizations that do not,” Killough said. “Those that perform poorly in executing their programs unnecessarily expose  themselves to significantly higher risk. The entire government would  benefit from a renewed focus on broad adoption of program management  standards, and the creation of a job classification and defined career  path for program managers.”

Killough also recognized areas where government agencies are moving in  the right direction. He commended the Department of Homeland Security’s  Program Accountability and Risk Management (PARM) Office for its role in  initiating key improvements to DHS program management practices, adding  that PARM’s ongoing efforts could be bolstered by legislation.

Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) invited Killough to testify on behalf of PMI before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on  Oversight and Management Efficiency on 26 April 2013 at a hearing  entitled “Cutting DHS Duplication and Wasteful Spending: Implementing  Private Sector Best Practices and Watchdog Recommendations.”

PMI is one of the world’s largest not-for-profit membership associations for the project management profession. Our professional resources and research empower more than 700,000 members, certification and credential holders and volunteers in nearly every country in the world to enhance their careers, improve their organizations’ success and further mature  the profession.

PMI’s worldwide advocacy for project management is reinforced by our globally recognized standards and certification program, extensive  academic and market research programs, chapters and communities of  practice and professional development opportunities.