Decision Support
Decision theory, decision support methods, and decision support systems and tools have evolved in sophistication and utility over the past 50 years.
The demand for decision support is stronger today than ever as managers in both the public and private sectors are routinely required to make decisions in an environment of uncertainty and, sometimes, without a complete understanding of their business processes. In many cases, these decisions do not adequately account for risk or they fail to anticipate the second- and third-order effects that will result. In other cases, decisions must be made in resource constrained environments. The ability to make informed decisions which consider unforeseen circumstances in such an environments is fundamental to achieving efficient and effective organizations.
CALIBRE’s Offerings
CALIBRE offers training, executive seminars, and management consulting support for organizations seeking to improve performance through better application of the decision support framework. We provide our customers with value-added tools, techniques, and assistance that support sound decision making and the systematic use of data to support decision making. CALIBRE specializes in the use of Systems Thinking modeling and facilitation, and integration of risk management into our customers’ decision making process.
Business Analytics
The systematic use of data and analysis to support decision making distinguishes leaders in both the public and private sectors. CALIBRE offers customers experience in capturing data from multiple, disparate legacy systems and aggregating into a coherent operating picture; analyzing data to identify inconsistencies, choke points in workflows, or emerging problems; and presenting data in the form of dashboards and reports for managers and leaders. We can assist customers with using data, descriptive and predictive models, and optimization techniques to understand the dynamics of their organization, speed workflow, and improve decision making over time.
Business Case Development
CALIBRE offers business case development and independent cost estimates for materiel and information systems, force structure, and personnel requirements. We employ a wide range of cost estimating techniques, relationships, and historical cost factor databases for economic analyses comparing alternatives.
Earned Value Management (EVM)
CALIBRE provides expertise in applying EVM as a data-driven management approach, consistent with the standards in ANSI/EIA-748B, that ensures contract cost, schedule, and technical performance are tightly integrated. A critical enabler in the Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) process, EVM systematizes planning and performance monitoring to ensure customer investments are tracked against a scope, schedule, and cost baseline.
Our EVM implementation facilitates:
- Organizing and defining work;
- Planning and budgeting;
- Accounting;
- Analysis; and
- Change control.
Lean Six Sigma
With a staff led by certified Master Black Belts, CALIBRE applies a scientific approach to defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling business processes for optimum effectiveness and efficiency. CALIBRE offers business process analysis and improvement capabilities that deliver actionable solutions to address the issues facing public and private sector managers today.
Our teams can:
- Align core business processes with customer and business requirements;
- Systematically reduce variation and defects from existing processes, products, and/or services;
- Design new processes, products, and/or services that reliably and consistently meet customer and business requirements;
- Implement infrastructure and leadership systems to sustain gains and foster continuous improvement;
- Develop Black Belt and Green Belt training and certification programs; and
- Establish organization-wide continuous process improvement.
Risk Management
In recent years, managers have become increasingly aware of how their organizations can be buffeted by risks beyond their control. CALIBRE’s risk-based approach to cost, schedule, and technical performance management considers effectiveness, efficiency, and constraints due to applicable laws, directives, Executive Orders, policies, standards, or regulations assists in achieving your organizational mission. CALIBRE provides training and technical assistance in applying risk management tools and techniques for improved planning, estimation, tracking and monitoring, managing technical performance, and allocating resources intelligently.
CALIBRE can assist government and commercial business managers, project managers, and contracting officers to:
- Identify sources of technical, schedule, and cost uncertainty that might affect program or project success;
- Assess the probability and consequence of uncertain events or conditions;
- Model and predict the range of program or project outcomes when uncertainty is accounted for; and
- Formulate effective mitigation strategies to control the effects of uncertainty.
Strategic Planning
Today’s pervasive economic uncertainty complicates strategic planning efforts. Further, a McKinsey Survey cites that most organizations have a formal strategic planning process but do not use it to make their most important decisions. Strategic planning addresses the development of an integrated and coordinated set of commitments and actions, which, if carried out, will enable the organization to accomplish its mission and achieve its vision. CALIBRE’s strategic planning services focus management attention to achieve increased efficiency and effectiveness.
Systems Thinking Modeling and Facilitation
CALIBRE’s demonstrated Systems Thinking experience offers a strong conceptual and analytical framework for developing insights and understanding about the interrelationships and dynamics that govern strategy and performance of your organization. Systems Thinking brings the capability to model and simulate, in a dynamic “management laboratory,” existing strategies and business processes as well as proposed changes to strategies and processes. We use models and simulation tools to help customers achieve a better understanding of the consequences and resource demands of their current business processes and alternatives that should be considered to improve decision making, communications, and performance.
