The project on implementation of program and project management in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine was launched in 2016. It is one of the areas of transformation of the defense management system of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
This initiative is a part of the support programme led by the UK Special Defence Advisor Team (SDA), funded from the British Government’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF) budget.
The main goal of the project is to introduce modern approaches to managing capacity development projects of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This contributes to:
- ensuring timely implementation of strategic development decisions
- increasing the efficiency of resource use
- strengthening the coherence of development programs of the Armed Forces and other components of the defense forces
- improving the management of the implementation of programs and projects for the development of the Armed Forces' capabilities
- accelerating the defense reform processes.
PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS INTEGRATED:
- with capability-based defense planning processes
- with the system of monitoring and control over the implementation of the Strategic Defense Bulletin of Ukraine
- with the educational programs of the Ivan Cherniakhovskyi National Defense University of Ukraine.
PROJECT RESULTS
Since 2016, the team's main efforts have been focused on the following areas:
METHODOLOGY
In cooperation with the Department of Military Policy and Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, we developed:
- Military Standard (MS) 01.040.010 – 2021 Defense Planning. Software and project management. Management of the program, subprogram of projects
- Military Standard (MS) 01.040.011 – 2021 Defense planning. Software and project management. Project management
- Guidelines for project managers
- Analysis of the experience of leading NATO member states in using a project-based approach to managing the development of defense capabilities
- Provided consulting support for the development of the Doctrine of Defense Planning in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in terms of project management.
SUPPORT FOR THE LAUNCH OF PROJECTS TO DEVELOP THE CAPABILITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE
In 2018-2019, as part of the implementation of the 2016 Strategic Defense Bulletin of Ukraine, the team provided methodological and advisory support for the launch and implementation of 15 priority pilot projects in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In 2019, the team provided the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with advisory assistance on program and project management methodology during the development of the Program for the establishment of a system of unified command and control of the defense forces and military administration in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Within the framework of the Strategic Defense Bulletin of Ukraine approved in 2021, the project provided support to project teams in the process of forming a set of programs and projects for the development of capabilities of the MoD and the AFU. In total, over 100 projects were processed during this period, which were to be included in the State Program for Capacity Development of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They were provided with methodological support in preparing project management documentation.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COURSE TRAINING
Together with the Center for Defense Management of the Ivan Cherniakhovskyi National Defense University of Ukraine, we developed educational programs and training programs for operational and strategic managers in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces. In total, the team has trained 274 leaders and project participants since 2021.
TARGET MODEL
The target model of the defense management system is being built gradually through the adaptation and implementation of the best management practices and approaches of partner countries. The model development process is based on a holistic systematic approach that:
- combines various functions and verticals in the process of building top-down and bottom-up management processes
- applies a process approach to describe activities
- introduces a matrix organizational and role structure that provides for cross-functional cooperation of specialists from different departments in the process of achieving certain goals and objectives
- provides for the functioning of collegial governing bodies (committees) to resolve complex conflict issues, elaborate informed decisions on priorities and manage resources to obtain military and institutional capabilities as results of development projects and programs
- lays the foundation for automating the processes of monitoring and control over the implementation of goals and objectives, which aims to simplify reporting, increase transparency of implementation, and introduce tools that improve the quality of decision-making and eliminate potential risks
- forms the basis for increasing the maturity level of organizational culture.
In cooperation with the Department of Military Policy and Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, we:
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conducted a functional analysis of program and project management processes
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developed models of program and project management processes
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analyzed the challenges of implementing program and project management
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presented to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense proposals on ways to address current challenges in the context of managing programs and projects for capacity development
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developed a target model of program and project management in the defense management system of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
PECULIARITIES OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IN WARTIME
With the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, the project continues its work and provides advisory assistance in building the capacity of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We believe that even during active hostilities, it is necessary to engage in medium-term capacity development planning and work to improve the efficiency of the management system of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Capabilities that enable us to win do not appear by themselves, but require planning, programming, budgeting, and implementation of projects and programs.
Everything Ukraine is defending today was planned and generated years ago. Everything that Ukraine will use to defend itself tomorrow is being planned today. Everything that will allow Ukraine to exist in the future should be planned tomorrow.
