1. Contracting for Decision Makers Professor ___________
WELCOME!
CON 360
Contracting for Decision Makers
Your Teaching Team:
Professor ___________

2. Learning to Think Critically to Make More Effective Business Decisions
Technically Competent!
Business Savvy!
Change Ready!
Learning to Think Critically
to Make More Effective
Business Decisions
to Support Your Agency's Mission.

3. Welcome to CON 360 Administration
Fill out the Name Tent in BIG DARK letters with what you want to be called. First names encouraged!

4. Assists in locating you in case of emergency
Locator Cards
 Review hard copy
 Sign and Date or
 Fill out and sign/date blank form
Assists in locating you in case of emergency

5. DAU Policies  Non-Attribution Academic Integrity  Dress Code
All outside assistance and citations must be acknowledged
Copying, sharing or exchanging of quiz information before, during or after CON360 is an integrity issue!
 Dress Code
Business Casual including last day

6. Blackberries and Texting
Blackberries/Cell Phones—Silenced
Please be courteous and resist the urge to check your phone during lectures
If you need to take care of business—do so during breaks or step out of the classroom

7. DAU Attendance Policies
All absences must be coordinated with instructor in advance
No more than 5% of instructional time can be missed – for CON 360 that is 4 hours
5% includes cumulative absences (take note those of you who are habitually late!)
Prior to approval, the instructor will coordinate any absence over 4 hrs with the DAU Academic Dean
Failure to abide by DAU’s attendance policy may be grounds for disenrollment or failure
DAU Academic Policies are detailed in DAU Directive 704 which is available on the DAU website

8. Student Academic Policies & Information
DAU encourages students who have an issue or concern with the learning environment to discuss it with their instructor.
Students who feel their issue is not resolved satisfactorily may go to the department chair/site manager or Associate Dean for Academics.
Students should visit the Student Policies and Information page at for information on matters such as:
standards of conduct
accommodations for students with special needs
prerequisite coursework
student evaluations
violations of academic policy
problem resolution procedures
requesting a transcript
…and more

9. Administration Class starts at 0800 daily Last day ends at 1200
Restrooms
Sodas & Snacks
Coffee Mess
Student Parking

10. Administration continued
Classroom Computers
will NOT be used during lectures, briefings or when guest speakers are present
 Classroom Computers
Sign-On:_________________
Password:_______________

11. Terminal Learning Objectives
The student, while serving in the role of the contracting leader will:
Apply critical thinking skills to a contracting related problem in a graded paper and verbal presentation with supporting media.
Apply problem solving methods to a contracting related problem in a graded paper and verbal presentation with supporting media
Apply risk mitigation techniques to a contracting related problem in a verbal presentation and class discussion

12. Terminal Learning Objectives
The student, while serving in the role of the contracting leader will:
Apply leadership skills to complex contracting issues in a verbal presentation and class discussion
Apply an industry and senior Government contracting leader perspective to an assigned contracting policy issue in a graded written paper and a verbal presentation with supporting media
Contribute in a collaborative environment by providing timely written and verbal feedback to team members and the class

13. Terminal Learning Objectives
The student, while serving in the role of the contracting leader will:
Make a decision related to a contracting dilemma that complies with the rules of ethics in contracting
Successfully identify various methods of motivating and alleviating employee stress for individuals who are dealing with constant change in the contracting working environment
Manage information and knowledge for currency in acquisition and contracting in order to prepare and deliver presentations on current issues in contracting as measured by rubric handout

14. Agenda
See Handout

15. Course Philosophy You are all competent, well trained professionals
We learn from each other – senior professionals
Expectations
Competencies – soft and hard skills

16. Academic Studies of Procurement Skills               
The Definition of “Skills” Varies Widely with no Clear Set of Common “Best Practices”

17. On-Line Assessments 15% of Your Grade
Reading Assignment –Effective Team Membership and Leadership
Written Assignment 5%
Reading Assignment – Problem Solving
Written Assignment 10%

18. Resident Assessments 85% of Your Grade
15% Quiz #1 (Individual) – 15 Questions
20% Local Challenge (Individual) – See Rubric
10% Hot Topics (Group) – See Rubric
15% Quiz #2 (Individual) – 15 Questions
20% Senior Leadership Challenge (Group) – See Rubric
5% Class and Team Participation (Individual) – See Rubric
You must earn at least 80% out of 100% to successfully complete CON 360

19. In class review conducted Tuesday morning.
Quiz #1
“Leadership That Gets Results” by Daniel Goleman (Appendix A)
“What You Don’t Know About Making Decisions” by David Garvin and Michael Roberto (Handout)
“Basic Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision Making” by Carter McNamara (Appendix A)
“In Search of Effective Teams” (Appendix A)
Critical Thinking Lesson (Tab 3)
Quiz is worth 15 points
In class review conducted Tuesday morning.

20. Quiz #2 Problem Solving Lesson – 2 Questions
Risk Management Lesson – 2 Questions
“Managing Change and Transition” Film – 2 Questions
Leadership – 2 Questions
Conflict Management Lesson – 2 Questions
“Pitfalls to Avoid in Dealing with Difficult People” Film – 2 Questions
Ethics Lesson – 2 Questions
Tradeoffs/Source Selection – 1 Question
Quiz is worth 15 points

21. Local Challenge Project Resident Week 1
Refine Problem Statement using critical thinking
(Steps 1 & 2 of Rationale Problem Solving Model)
Team support given on local challenge project
Develop and analyze alternatives, make recommendations (Steps 3 & 4 of Rational Problem Solving Model)
Develop a page point paper using the business decision template format
Present a 10 minute/student brief of your local challenge, with 5 minute questions and answers from the coaches and class
Put information on board Current State, Impact, End State

22. Team Senior Leader Challenge Project Resident Week 2
Develop problem statement (Step 1 & 2 of Rational Problem Solving Model)
Develop and Analyze Alternatives, Make Recommendations (Steps 3 & 4 of Rational Problem Solving Model)
Discuss implementation of the recommended alternative (Step 5 of the Rational Problem Solving Model)
Develop a 3-5 Page Point Paper (using the Business Decision Pt Paper Format)
Present a 15 minute team brief to senior leadership

23. Business Decision Point Paper Outline
Problem Statement
Concise, relevant three sentences explicitly stating the problem/impact/end-state.
Discussion (The following are examples, not a rigid list)
Background (Awareness of the scope, implications and issues associated with the problem)
Key Actors (Stakeholders)
Assumptions & Constraints
Cause and Effect; Impact of Problem on Mission
Evidence, Facts, Supporting Data, etc.
Alternatives
List and Explain Alternatives
Criteria for Selecting Alternative Recommendation
Criteria for selecting which Alternative
Major drivers or risk factors affecting alternative selected (Cost, Schedule, Performance, Resources, Standards, Best Practices, Regulations, Statutes, Technical, Quality, ROI, etc.)
Rate and Explain Each Alternative Based on Criteria
Recommendation
State recommendation(s) & how you chose based on your ratings, roll-up, ranking & grouping.
Implementation
Identify the next step – implementation. What actions are needed to move out on the recommendation.

24. Your Feedback is Important!
White Index Card for specific daily feedback
Talk to us if you have any issues
End-of-Course questionnaire on-line—Not until Thursday afternoon of Week 2

25. ANY QUESTIONS?

26. Tell Us About Yourself
What is your name?
Where do you work?
What is your primary role at work?
What are 1- 3 things that are special, unique or interesting about yourself (family, hobbies, likes, dislikes, travels, talents, military experience, etc.).