#213 – FIRM FIXED PRICE CONTRACTS CAN BE RISKY – JOHN AYERS

Featured

AAA-150x150A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract is a commonly used one by the government because the price is fixed and not subject to change unless the scope changes.  The government assumes very little risk while the contractor assumes the majority of the risk. But if you want to play in the sand box and the RFP (request for quote) requires an FFP contract then the contractor has to bid it that way and hopefully has included adequate risk budget in the price. This is a story about an FFP contract that did not work out well for my company resulting in serious consequences. Continue reading

#212 – CRITICAL RISKS AND ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT – JAMES KLINE PH.D.

Featured

aIMG_4231-150x150In other pieces the Lloyd’s of London City Risk and the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves studies were discussed.  It was noted that both studies provide an assessment of the costs associated with the adverse impact of risk events.  The Natural Hazard study focused on natural Hazards, while the Lloyd’s study incorporates both man-made and natural hazard risk events.  Continue reading

#211 – ELIMINATING WASTE – SCHEDULING – JOSEPH PARIS

Featured

image001-2-300x300-250x250If you ever find yourself saying; “There must be a better way”, I can guarantee you that there is.  All we must do is find it.  And, once a successful solution is suspected, try it.  And when found, implement.

One of the biggest stones in my shoe was scheduling appointments and calls.  It was a giganormous time-suck. Continue reading

#210 – TAKING ON UNNECESSARY PROJECT RISK – JOHN AYERS

Featured

AAA-150x150This story is about risk at the enterprise program/project level.  It is an example of centering your design around a high-tech solution to a problem when a low risk proven technology would have more than sufficed.   Technical expertise ego got in the way of a practical low-cost approach resulting in unplanned schedule and cost growth. Continue reading

#205 – A MAJOR SUBCONTRACT GONE WRONG – JOHN AYERS

Featured

TAAA-150x150his risk story involves a major subcontract that went awry impacting the program and one of my company’s growth goals.  The goal was to become the sole provider to the Navy for a mine killing system comprising two major components. One is an underwater kill vehicle and the second one is a launcher (from a helicopter).  To accomplish this goal, we landed a contract with the Navy to design, build and perform tests of a small quantity of units (called first article units). Continue reading