Running Head: PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP

Project Definition: The Fleming Group

Returning Group One:

Tawn A. Gillihan, Nuong Nguyen, Jeff Kitts, Corey Wallace

California State University, Monterey Bay

June 4, 2018
IST626 Instructional Design
Dr. Jeanne Farrington
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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
The Fleming Group Project Definition
Client

Dr. Mary Norris Thomas, CEO

The Fleming Group, LLC

Email: mnthomas@fleminggroup.com

MIST Team

Tawn Gillihan - Project Manager

Email: tgillihan@csumb.edu, tgillihan@csustan.edu

Phone: Office (209) 667-3470

Nuong Nguyen - Documentarian

Email: nunguyen@csumb.edu

Jeff Kitts - Developer

Email: jkitts@slvusd.org

Corey Wallace - Developer

Email: cowallace@csumb.edu
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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
Project Overview

The project is to create a job aid and instructional guide for a data evaluation framework,

titled “Making Sound Decisions: A Framework for Judging the Worth of Your Data.” The intent

of the job aid and instructional guide is to be used in training sessions to familiarize managers,

executives, and consultants with the method. Dr. Mary Thomas, of the Fleming Group, LLC., is

the client, co-author of the data evaluation framework, and sponsor of the project. The Fleming

Group, LLC. is an executive consulting firm that applies evidenced-based practices to produce

measurable outcomes of value for commercial, non-profit, and government markets.

We are very fortunate to have Dr. Thomas as our client. Dr. Thomas is a subject matter

expert in the field of evidence-based practices for performance improvement. She is highly

qualified to provide guidance for the project.

The job aid and instructional guide training tools are to be designed to fit a variety of

public and private sectors’ needs. The concepts and process of evaluating data for decision

making are already used in public and private settings; however, the challenge is in designing a

concise workflow process to allow learners to implement data-informed decisions quickly.

Success for the project will be achieved if the resulting job aid and instructional guide

will allow a learner to quickly evaluate data to support decision making, which will result in

specific outcomes. Using the data evaluation framework will result in specific determinations

about the quality of the data and whether the data is sufficient to support sound decision making.

Why Training?

Executives, managers, and consultants across public and private sectors lack a concise

and easy to use framework for evaluating data for sound decision-making. The job aid, combined

with the instructional guide, are the tools for a trainer to address the skills gap of the learners on
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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
data evaluation. The job aid and instructional guide are generic tools for a range of training

applications. Possible training formats include one-to-one or one-to-many situations in either a

face-to-face or online webinar format.

Learners

The learners are clients of the Fleming Group, LLC. The learners are generally

professional adults in the public and private sectors. The learners are generally in positions as

supervisors or managers and are motivated to learn new skills. Part of the target audience is

leaders early in their careers who would benefit from learning foundational skills in effective

decision-making practices.

Organizational Goals

The Fleming Group, LLC. is an executive consulting firm that applies evidence-based

practices to produce measurable outcomes of value for commercial, non-profit, and government

markets (Thomas, 2018, p. 1). The Fleming Group, LLC. endeavors to add value to clients and

society through consulting for performance management systems, command and readiness

programs, and operational architectures.

Learner Goals

Evaluating quantitative and qualitative data in a framework to support sound decision-

making is a process of identifying the quality of the data to answer critical questions. The

following are outlined from the article “Making Sound Decisions: A Framework for Judging the

Worth of Your Data” (Guerra-Lopez, Thomas, 2011).

Primary Objectives

1. With the use of a job aid, the student will be able to determine if the data is

relevant in answering the key questions, with 100% accuracy.

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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
2. With the use of a job aid, the student will be able to determine if the data is

valid in answering the key questions, with 100% accuracy.

3. With the use of a job aid, the student will be able to determine if the data is

reliable in answering the key questions, with 100% accuracy.

4. With the use of a job aid, the student will be able to determine if the data is

accurate in answering the key questions, with 100% accuracy.

Learning objectives

1. The learner (manager) will be able to determine the potential effectiveness of

the data he or she will use to inform their decisions.

Deliverables

A data evaluation framework job aid and instructional guide are the primary deliverables

for this project. The job aid is envisioned as a single page document for the client to use during

the training and as a job aid reference after the training. The instructional guide is principally

designed for the instructor of the training to lead the training session. The instructional guide

may also be used by the learner for reference during the training and in post-training, job-related

practices.

The instructional guide will include scenario-based examples with data that needs to be

evaluated using the framework. For example, the learners might have to evaluate data, like test

scores broken down by standards, to inform instructional decisions.

Project Resources

The project resources are the subject matter expert, an article presenting the data evaluation

framework, the team members, and our course instructor.

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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
● Subject matter expert, Dr. Mary Thomas

● The article, “Making Sound Decisions: A Framework for Judging the Worth of Your

Data” (Guerra-Lopez, Thomas, 2011)

● The project outline: Performance Support for Sound Decision-Making (Thomas, 2018)

● Guidance: Dr. Jeanne Farrington

Logistical Considerations

● June 10-23 Corey in Mexico, will be traveling with a laptop.

● June 20-26 limited client availability (Dr. Mary Norris Thomas).

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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
Timeline

WEEK DUE TEAM ASSIGNMENTS COMMENTS ADDIE

DATE PROCESS

3 Tues., Project Definition (PD) Begin developing Analysis

June 5 document due content/design

5 Tues., Turn in Design Document Work on storyboards

June 19 /sample draft materials

6 Tues., Turn in Create materials Development

June 26 storyboard/sample draft

materials

Share with client

7 Tues., Work on Design Project, Begin Design Project

July 3 Study for Midterm Report

8 Tues., Team revise and edit report Work on Design Project

July 10 Report; finalize project.

9 Wed., Have Dr. Thomas review Test to see if job aid and Implement &

July 18 Design Project Report instructional materials Evaluate

work

10 Tues., Turn in Final Project and

July 24 Materials
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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
Budget

The monetary budget is assumed to be zero dollars regarding expenditures for the project.

There is no current view that the project may require expenditures, just human resource time.

Critical Success Factors

This project allows the design team great latitude in developing learner materials and job

aids based on the client’s academic research. Among the critical success factors are the

alignment of the project team’s interpretation of the research into job aids versus the client’s

vision of the final project. Providing regular updates to the client, along with proof of concept

materials for the client’s evaluation and review are critical factors. Weekly client meetings are

planned to ensure client’s needs are being met. Related to this success factor is allowing

sufficient time to submit materials, receive feedback, and revise as needed. The design team will

plan for multiple revisions and final approvals prior to the end of June.
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PROJECT DEFINITION THE FLEMING GROUP
References

Thomas, N. (2018). Performance support for sound decision making. The Fleming

Group, LLC.

Thomas, N. & Guerra-Lopez, I. (2011). Making sound decisions: A framework for judging the

worth of your data. Performance Improvement, 50 (5).

Rauchfuss, G., Dinscore, A., Solorzano, M., Nekmal, B., & Moore, C. (2017). Project definition

document: NARA records management training. CSUMB, MIST626.