Date

Winter 2021

ESRP 9000 Professor

David B. Ross, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

David B. Ross, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

This strategic research project was designed to provide a critical analysis of the Homeland Security Education and Professional Development Division, within the Office of Strategic Learning, Development and Engagement at the United States Department of Homeland Security. This critical analysis includes an overview of the organization, a summation of its origins, and the mission, vision, and value statements. Next, a SWOT analysis was conducted to investigate organizational strengths (i.e., Customer Focused, Social Responsibility, Synergy of Programs); weaknesses (i.e., Administrative Delays, Staffing Shortfalls, Lack of Project Management Plans); opportunities (i.e., Academic Relationships, Training Opportunities, Benefits Package); and threats (i.e., Interoperability Issues, Technological Limitations, Public Perception). Both an Internal Factor Evaluation and an External Factor Evaluation were conducted based upon the elements of the SWOT analysis, revealing scores of 2.29 and 2.49 respectively. Each indicating that there is ample room for improvement within our organization.

This strategic research project further investigated the lack of project management plans for the programs within the Homeland Security Education and Professional Development Division as a weakness that we can identify potential solutions for, in order to address this problem. The proposed solutions included analyses on known project management methods, including Waterfall, Agile Scrum, and Agile Kanban, and one novel method, an Agile Hybrid. The Agile Hybrid method combines elements from Agile Scrum with the Department Plan Development Process. The methods were rated based upon weighted evaluation criteria, including structure, adaptability, output product (written plan), and required team experience. Ultimately, the Agile Hybrid method represents the recommended solution determined to be best suited for solving the project management planning problem within the Homeland Security Education and Professional Development Division.

The development of a dedicated time and space, in the form of a new meeting, served as the strategy for implementing the Agile Hybrid method. An action plan for both the new meeting strategy and an example action plan for the Joint Mission Fellows Program, an active project within the division, were developed to ensure the success of the future implementation of this project. The action plan was accompanied by a narrated presentation outlining each step within this strategic research project. Finally, recommendations for future research include further investigations into the remaining factors from the SWOT analysis, implementing this project as proposed, and replicating the project across other offices and divisions.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Language

English

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