Insights
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CEO Book Club Vol 13: "Creating the Organization of the Future"This week CEO, Ajay Patel, is reading a new book “Creating the Organization of the Future” by Dr. Bernard Jaworski...July 17, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 12: "Navigating the Seven Seas"This week, Ajay is reading, "Navigating the Seven Seas" by Melvin G. Williams Sr. and Melvin G. Williams Jr.June 20, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 11: "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women"This week, Ajay Patel is reading "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women: Unique, Eccentric and Amazing Entertainers" by Ricky Jay.May 31, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 10: "Faster, Better, Cheaper"This week, Ajay Patel is reading"Faster, Better, Cheaper: Low-Cost Innovation in the U.S. Space Program" by Howard McCurdy.May 2, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 9: “Silent Spring” in celebration of Earth DayAjay Patel, CEO of SMA, just finished re-reading "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson, the iconic book that inspired the environmental...April 17, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 8: “The PC Is Not a Typewriter”This week, Ajay Patel is reading Robin William’s classic book, "The PC Is Not a Typewriter" published in 1992 by...April 11, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 7: "The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking"This week, Ajay Patel is reading Barbara Minto’s classic book "The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking."March 21, 2023 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Deniz DalayThis week we shine the spotlight on Deniz Dalay, an SMA associate specializing in capturing and executing military and commercial...March 9, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 6: "Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control"This week, Ajay Patel is reading "Brainwashed: A New History of Thought Control" by Daniel Pick of the University...March 8, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol 5: "The Cold Start Problem"This week, Ajay Patel is reading “The Cold Start Problem” by Andrew Chen, published in 2021.February 21, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol.4: “The Science of Storytelling"This week, Ajay Patel is reading “The Science of Storytelling” written by William Storr, published in 2019.February 14, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol.3: “The Ten Equations That Rule the World"This week, Ajay Patel is reading "The Ten Equations That Rule the World and How You Can Use Them Too"...February 6, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol. 2: "The Power of Geography"Welcome back to the CEO Book Club! Ajay Patel, CEO of SMA, reads a wide variety of books and this...February 1, 2023 -
CEO Book Club Vol. 1: "The Organic Growth Playbook"What and why does Ajay Patel read? Ajay Patel, CEO of SMA, recently read The Organic Growth Playbook by Bernard...January 23, 2023 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Lee EllingsonThis week we spotlight Lee Ellingson, an SMA Associate of 18 years, who specializes in graphic design and production.January 13, 2023 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Lynden HolsclawLyn Holsclaw, SMA associate specializing in systems engineering for U.S. aerospace and defense systems, has the spotlight this week.December 1, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Susan TriversThis week we shine the spotlight on Susan Trivers, an SMA Associate of six years. She is an orals coach...November 3, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Robert ScottRobert Scott, an SMA Associate who is an Executive Advisor on contract management, acquisition planning, and strategic capture has the...October 27, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Luis EstradaThe keynote speaker at Town Hall #119 was Luis Estrada, an SMA associate who was nominated twice for an Emmy...October 7, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Shane ThompsonShane Thompson, an SMA Associate excelling at project management, earned value management, scheduling and more, has the spotlight this weekAugust 18, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Rick MullikinRick Mullikin, an SMA Associate specializing in capture and proposal management in the aerospace and defense industries, has the spotlight...July 28, 2022 -
Metrics That MatterGrowing to over 800 professionals and being in business for over 40 years, have learned one thing for sure.July 14, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Dr. Alan BermanWe sat down with Dr. Alan Berman, Vice President of Research and Strategic Initiatives at SMA and an SMA Associate...July 12, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Bill DeanThis week we spotlight Bill Dean, one of our most senior program architects who is celebrating 24 years as an...June 10, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: John AmbielliThis week we spotlight one of SMA’s newer associates, John Ambielli, who specializes in proposal and program management.April 29, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Earl MazerolleThis week we spotlight Earl Mazerolle, an associate at SMA for 14 years specializing in scheduling and program management.April 15, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Patricia JamesWe spoke with SMA Associate Patricia James. She shared her career journey as a proposal production, graphics, and coordinator specialist.April 7, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Christie WoodwardWe recently spent time with Christie Woodward, an SMA Associate of five years. She discussed her time as a proposal...March 17, 2022 -
Is your Program Kitchen on Fire?Is there a fire in your program kitchen and do you have the appliances to put that fire out? SMA...March 15, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Marie SiganWe recently spent time with Marie Sigan, an SMA Associate for 14 years. She explained her job as a master...March 9, 2022 -
How SMA Provides You with the Support You Need to SucceedSMA recognizes your success precedes ours. We provide program support because our ability to help clients succeed drives us!March 8, 2022 -
Where and How Russia Will Strike NextA White Paper originally prepared by SMA, Inc., for the U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) on 22 January...February 25, 2022 -
SMA Associate Spotlight: Chris JudeWe hosted senior associate, Chris Jude, during Town Hall #84 where he shared his journey to becoming an exceptional proposal...February 14, 2022 -
Is Your Proposal Kitchen on Fire?Is there a fire in your proposal kitchen and now you're in crunch time before submission? We can help put...February 2, 2022 -
What Is the Secret to a Successful Project?Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., CEO of SHRM states, “Employers need to recruit for skill but hire for fit.” So, how...January 19, 2022 -
SMA: Parker Aerospace’s Trusted Partner for Ten Years“SMA showed our team what done right looks like” – Barry Draskovich, Vice President of Program and Contract Management, Parker...January 6, 2022 -
Not All Heroes Wear Capes!At SMA you can trust our heroes to rescue you and provide the resources needed to rescue you when you...December 17, 2021 -
SMA: Fincantieri’s FFG(X) Trusted PartnerIn an interview with SMA, Chuck Goddard, former CEO at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, told us, “SMA was instrumental in winning...December 2, 2021 -
Api Rudich: "SMA was Instrumental in MediVector’s Success with DoD"We recently spoke with Api Rudich, CEO of MediVector, who we helped win a $230M program for the development of...November 24, 2021 -
Peter F. Drucker's Vision RealizedOur 30 September Global Town Hall explored recent trends for knowledge workers and their implications for managing a professional services...October 5, 2021 -
Changing the Font in Microsoft Word EquationsWordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President of Corporate Support) explains how to change the font used...July 26, 2021 -
Hindsight in AdvanceDon't wait until you lose! Our Prospective Lessons Learned (PL2)™ generates prospective insights, identifies the different ways an opportunity might...May 21, 2021 -
Wordman’s Must Have Windows AppsWhat apps do you always download to a new Windows computer? Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice...April 16, 2021 -
Your Win Strategy Should NOT Be a Black Box!Strategy is about the choices you make to create a differentiation in the market. How do you know if your...March 12, 2021 -
Microsoft Word: Color ThemesWordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President for Corporate Support) shows you how to create a Microsoft...March 9, 2021 -
The Nine Principles of Winning and Proposal Development40-year secrets of SMA’s success finally revealed! You will not find these principles of winning anywhere else—the missing link between...March 8, 2021 -
How to Thrive in the Gig Economy for ProfessionalsWatch a recording of our recent Global Town Hall discussing how developing a strategy for leveraging gig workers is critical...March 1, 2021 -
Price-to-Win Re-examinedPresenting our point of view on a modern approach to pricing strategy for competitive procurements, and how to avoid the...February 26, 2021 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 9, Featuring Bob GurinListen to Bob Gurin, SMA Senior Vice President and proposal guru, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble Talk SMA...February 25, 2021 -
Are We Stuck in the Past? The Need for New ThinkingIn this presentation, SMA President and CEO, Ajay Patel, CF APMP, asks if we have neglected proposal text by focusing...February 24, 2021 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 8, Featuring John RoodListen to John Rood, SMA Executive Advisor and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the US Department of...February 22, 2021 -
How to Turn Around a Losing Proposal: A Case Study of Great ExpectationsIn this case study, SMA CEO Ajay Patel offers guidance on what to do when you find yourself in the...February 18, 2021 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 7, Featuring Lana BrownerListen to Lana Browner, CP APMP, PMP, SMA Senior Associate and Proposal Manager, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble...February 17, 2021 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 6, Featuring Amanda TraxlerListen to Amanda Traxler, CF APMP, SMA Principal Associate and Proposal Writer, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble Talk...December 28, 2020 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 5, Featuring Danny LongListen to Danny Long, SMA Principal Associate and Proposal Professional, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive...December 21, 2020 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 4, Featuring Brenda BallardListen to Brenda Ballard, CPP APMP, SMA Senior Associate and Proposal Professional, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble Talk...December 17, 2020 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 3, Featuring Al WhittListen to Al Whitt, SMA Principal Associate and logistics expert, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive...December 15, 2020 -
Conducting a Failure Analysis, Part 2: Nine Steps to Failure ResolutionIn the second part of his 2-part series on conducting failure analysis, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison describes the nine...December 1, 2020 -
Conducting a Failure Analysis, Part 1: Developing Ground Rules for TroubleshootingIn part 1 of his 2-part series on conducting failure analysis, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison looks at developing ground...November 30, 2020
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Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 2, Featuring Alan BermanListen to Dr. Alan Berman, our Vice President for Research and Strategic Initiatives, interviewed by Baskar Sundaram for the Scribble...November 17, 2020 -
Does Your Proposal Team Have Swing?A great proposal development process can get you to compliance, but a team with "swing" can move beyond compliance to...November 13, 2020 -
RESPECT: Sir Winston Churchill, My Father, and MeSMA Principal Associate Danny Long tells how he responded to a prospective client asking him to name three people he...September 23, 2020 -
Microsoft Word: DiacriticsNeed to insert a character with an accent into your Word document? Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our...September 22, 2020 -
A Lesson for All Time: Leadership and Management for the New Space RaceSMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison discusses the differences between leadership and management in the context of the 1986 Space Shuttle...September 16, 2020 -
Maintaining Cost and Resource Estimates throughout the Pre- and Post-Award LifecycleSMA Senior Associate Ron Wadlinger discusses how to maintain your cost and resource estimates through the project lifecycle: from pre-proposal...September 15, 2020 -
Scribble Talk SMA Exclusive Episode 1, Featuring Jacque KeatsListen to Jacque Keats, our Chief Operations Officer, interviewed by Ashley Kayes and Baskar Sundaram for the first ever Scribble...September 9, 2020 -
Is It Really a “Must Win”?SMA Principal Associate Danny Long shows how an opportunity can only be a "must win" if specific criteria of staffing,...September 3, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Replace Resources Best PracticesIn this article, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks at Deltek Cobra's Replace Resource process to replace a single...September 1, 2020 -
Microsoft Word: Dummy TextIf you want people to see how your new Word template will look with text, you'll need some easily-insertable dummy...August 31, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Slip Best PracticesSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his masterclass on Deltek Cobra by showing how to use the Slip feature...August 27, 2020 -
Microsoft Teams vs. Microsoft Office: When Shortcut Keys ClashFollowing an unexpected problem during a virtual training event using Microsoft Teams, Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our...August 26, 2020 -
Strategy, Planning, and Tactics: Why Business Projects FailSMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows that incomplete strategic development leading to poor operational planning can cause business projects to...August 25, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra - Align Time-Phased Dates Process Best PracticesSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his masterclass on Deltek Cobra, this time looking at how to use the...August 17, 2020 -
Microsoft Word: The Secret to Perfect Table BulletsIn his latest article, Wordman (aka Dick Eassom, CF APMP Fellow, our Vice President of Corporate Support), shows you how...August 11, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Top Down Planning Process Best PracticesSMA Sr. Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks at Deltek Cobra Top Down Planning process, which can also be useful for...August 6, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Rolling Wave Calendar Best PracticesSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, examines the best practices for using the Rolling Wave calendar process in Deltek Cobra.August 3, 2020 -
Microsoft Word: Understanding the Paragraph Properties MarkWordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow, SMA’s Vice President of Corporate Support) exposes the secrets behind Microsoft Word’s Paragraph...July 29, 2020 -
Infographic: Observations on the Office of Undersecretary of Defense for PolicyDownload our infographic detailing our observations on the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD(P)) in relation to...July 22, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra - Microsoft Excel Schedule Data Import Best PracticesIn the last of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...July 20, 2020 -
Estimating Overview: Understanding the Range of Possible OutcomesSMA Principal Associate Doug Plummer shows how using three-point estimate can be used to improve your confidence in bases of...July 15, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra - Open Plan Professional Schedule Data Import Best PracticesIn part three of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...July 14, 2020
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Microsoft Word: Run-on Headings and more using the Style SeparatorWordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow, SMA's Vice President of Corporate Support) shows how to use Microsoft Word's Style...July 13, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Microsoft Project Professional Schedule Data Import Best PracticesIn the second of his four-part series on Deltek Cobra cost/schedule data sharing, SMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, looks...July 9, 2020
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The Value of Personal Contact and Telework—Gifts of COVID‑19?Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, reflects on telework during COVID‑19 pandemic: will it...July 8, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra – Oracle Primavera P6 Schedule Data Import Best PracticesSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, continues his series of articles on Deltek Cobra looking at best practices for importing...July 1, 2020
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Facilitating Enterprise ChangeSMA Senior Proposal Manager Larry Tremmel discusses the steps necessary to make the changes necessary to allow your enterprise to...June 30, 2020 -
Client Project Management Process OverhaulSMA Principal Associate Scott Keeney, PMP, describes how we re-established best practice project management processes within our client's Project Management...June 29, 2020 -
Recommendations: One and Done or Invested?When someone asks for your letter of recommendation, how do you track their progress and success? SMA Executive Advisor Anthony...June 26, 2020 -
Self-Improvement: Turn Your Downtime into UptimeHow do you get the best out of your current downtime? Turn it into "uptime" and improve yourself, says SMA...June 25, 2020 -
Family Circus, Father’s Day, and Coping with a New NormalThe COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to impose work and lifestyle changes referred to as the “new normal”. One associated...June 19, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra Advanced Calculated FieldsSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, provides a tutorial on how to use Advanced Calculated Fields for Earned Value Management...June 18, 2020
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Spam and Phishing Attempts on the Rise: Are Your Digital Identities Secure?SMA Principal Associate and cyber risk expert Sarala Rajeshuni emphasizes the need to protect digital identities during COVID-19 teleworkingJune 17, 2020 -
Microsoft Word: End-of-Line HyphenationWordman (aka Dick Eassom CF APMP Fellow, SMA's Vice President of Corporate Support) shows how to use Microsoft Word's built-in...June 16, 2020 -
Creating the Next Pandemic Task Force (Part 2)In the second part of this 2-part article on setting up the Next Pandemic Task Force, SMA Principal Associate Dan...June 15, 2020 -
Creating the Next Pandemic Task Force (Part 1)In a 2-part article, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison looks at how you would use your program management and leadership...June 12, 2020
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On Virtual TeamsSMA Senior Proposal Manager Larry Tremmel discusses the specialized communication tools and tactics needed by virtual teamsJune 11, 2020 -
Accountability and ControlAnthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, continues his leadership articles with how to handle...June 10, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra EVMS Progress GuidanceSMA Senior Associate Alan Kristynik, PMP, provides a tutorial on earned value management progress techniques using Deltek CobraJune 9, 2020
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For Leaders: 5 Reasons Why Both Continuous Improvement and Sleep Are Deeply UnderratedSMA Senior Program Advisor Rick Ferraro compares the benefits of sleep and continuous process improvement to the organizationJune 8, 2020 -
Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: What Is Meant By, “Don’t Tell” and “Don’t Direct”?SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison wraps up his "Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct" series of articles on leadershipJune 5, 2020 -
Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Is “Cross-functional Teamwork” an Oxymoron?SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how reframing the problem can improve the effectiveness of cross-functional teamsJune 4, 2020 -
Words Matter with Teamwork: “I” and “My” or...?Anthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret) and SMA Executive Advisor, reminds us that choice of words can encourage...June 3, 2020 -
LPTA: Balancing Your PipelineIn the final part of his 4-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green...June 2, 2020 -
LPTA: Capturing without Equitable AdjustmentsIn part 3 of his series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green shows how...June 1, 2020
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Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Benchmarking with CompetitorsSMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how benchmarking your organization with your competitors can improve your market positionMay 29, 2020 -
LPTA: Leaving Money on the TableSMA Senior Associate Kyle Green continues his four-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements. In this part, he...May 28, 2020
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LPTA: Get Out of Your Own Way!SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green opens a four-part series on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procurements. First: get out of...May 27, 2020
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Why the Defense Market Doesn’t Adhere to Basic Supply & Demand ModelsSMA Analyst Eddie Solares examines the defense market and explains why it doesn't fit the standard supply and demand modelMay 26, 2020 -
Deltek Cobra Earned Value by Budget MethodThe calculation of Earned Value (EV), or performance, is central to Deltek Cobra. EV is always measured at the work...May 22, 2020
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Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: A “Shaming”SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison asks whether shaming a team member into doing something can achieve the desired resultsMay 21, 2020 -
Don’t Wait, Reflect and Act: High Performing Teams Don’t Just Exist; They Are CreatedSMA Principal Associate Sarala Rajeshuni argues that if you do it right, you cannot help but create successful, high performing...May 20, 2020 -
Getting More Value from Deltek Cobra: Cost ClassesSMA Senior Associate Ron Wadlinger describes some of the advantages of using Cost Classes in Deltek Cobra for your Earned...May 19, 2020
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Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: What Does/Can a CAM Do?SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison gives examples on the role of the Control Account Manager (CAM) in the project teamMay 18, 2020 -
Scribble Talk Episode 25, Featuring Ajay PatelListen to Ajay Patel, our CEO and President, interviewed by Ashley Kayes and Baskar Sundaram for their Scribble Talk podcast.May 15, 2020 -
BD Pipeline: Calculating PWINIn the last part of his 4-part BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green summarizes how to combine all...May 14, 2020 -
BD Pipeline: Customer RelationsIn part 3 of his 4-part BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green shows how customer relations affect your...May 13, 2020 -
BD Pipeline: Internal GatesIn part 2 of his BD Pipeline series, SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green describes the internal gates to estimating your...May 12, 2020 -
BD Pipeline: Validating Your OpportunitiesYou have limited resources and can only follow so many business opportunities: SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green explains opportunity validationMay 11, 2020 -
Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Schedule RecoveryWhen the situation looks hopeless, SMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison shows how working backwards from the desired result can help...May 8, 2020 -
Urgent and ImportantAnthony Rock, Lt. Gen. US Air Force (Ret.) and SMA Executive Advisor, reminds us to not let the "urgent" overcome...May 7, 2020 -
Best Practice Scheduling and EVMS Training Should be Mandatory in IndustrySMA Principal Associate Roger Risinger warns that project staff should be trained in scheduling and EVMS best practices, or risk...May 6, 2020 -
Digital Transformation of IT Shared Services: Why You Should Migrate Them to The CloudAlthough migrating your IT infrastructure to the cloud seems obvious now, SMA Principal Associate Sarala Rajeshuni advises that you have...May 5, 2020 -
Know Your Market: Creating a Market Intelligence ProgramBefore you start bidding, know your market. SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides five tips for building a market intelligence...May 4, 2020 -
Creating an Effective PowerPoint PresentationDo you dread being asked to create and deliver a PowerPoint presentation? SMA Associate Fellow Rich Nichols provides a few...May 1, 2020 -
Know Your Market: Building a Competitor ProfileBefore you start bidding, know your market. SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides six tips for building a competitor profileApril 30, 2020 -
Be Safe, Not Sorry: Cyber Security Risk MitigationSMA Principal Associate Sarala Rajeshuni warns that organizations must develop cyber security risk mitigation strategies, especially while employees are working...April 29, 2020 -
You Need to Have a Business Continuity MindsetSMA Principal Associate Lisa Troglio recommends considering Business Continuity during all aspects of the program lifecycleApril 28, 2020 -
Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Why Call for an Ordnance Summit? Risk ManagementSMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison provides a reminder of the importance of effective risk management, especially when working with complex...April 27, 2020 -
Four Steps to Getting Past Your Motivation SlumpLosing your motivation after a month of lockdown? SMA Senior Associate Kyle Green provides four steps to help you get...April 23, 2020 -
Learning the Six Circles of a Client ProgramSMA Principal Associate John Trapane reminds consultants that working effectively as a member of a client team requires you to...April 21, 2020 -
The Importance of DetailsSMA Principal Associate Rick Riordan reminds us that contract and proposal management are based on reading every written word in...April 17, 2020 -
Watch the Webinar: The Long-Term Impact of COVID-19 on GOVCON M&AJoin SMA President & CEO Ajay Patel and other esteemed speakers discussing the GOVCON M&A outlook after the COVID-19 pandemic...April 17, 2020 -
Ask, Don’t Tell; Listen, Don’t Direct: Organizational AlignmentSMA Principal Associate Dan Harrison provides his insights on how to lead your team to find alignment between the organizations...April 16, 2020 -
Scribble Talk Episode 14, featuring WordmanListen to Dick Eassom, our VP of Corporate Support, aka Wordman, interviewed by Ashley Kayes and Baskar Sundaram for their...April 13, 2020 -
Why Do I Do What I Do?SMA Principal Associate Danny Long explains his passion for being a career capture and proposal professionalApril 8, 2020 -
Four Steps to Creating Your Best TeamSMA Senior Associate Kyle Green reminds us that with team building, you must be intentional to create cross-functional relationships that...April 7, 2020 -
Writing When You Mean Business"Bad writing is everywhere, and it is something up with which we should not put." Greg Treverton, Ajay Patel, and...April 6, 2020 -
Nine Principles of Winning from the CEO of the Global Leader in Business Capture and Proposal ConsultingThere is a tendency to get lost in the intricate processes for writing proposals. Ajay Patel, President and CEO of...April 3, 2020 -
Schedules Should be Performance ModelsSMA Principal Associate Roger Risinger argues that project schedulers must have a detailed understanding of the “Project Process”April 1, 2020 -
Change Is in the AirHow Earned Value Management (EVM) can aid your understanding of how well your digital transformation activities to adapt to changing...January 6, 2020 -
RFP Strategy, Trends and Professionalism, Podcast Part 2SMA CEO, Ajay Patel, shares thoughts on the evolution of the proposal industry and improvement areas including proposal strategy,...November 8, 2019 -
RFP Strategy, Trends and Professionalism, Podcast Part 1Generating an RFP response is about WAY more than simply answering the questions provided. If you want to win business,...October 29, 2019 -
The 900-Pound Gorilla: SecrecySMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton examines the culture of secrecy at the clandestine services, and how that can unintentionally limit...October 15, 2019 -
The RFP Success Show talks to WordmanWhat would you rather do? Learn how to use Microsoft Word or fix broken proposal docs at the 11th hour?...October 1, 2019 -
The Art of BriefingYou're going to get interrupted during your important briefings, so think about how you're going to answer awkward questions in...September 18, 2019 -
Wisdom, Wit, and Diplomacy with Clark CliffordSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton reminisces over his experience with Clark Clifford, the late Washington lawyer and Secretary of Defense.September 16, 2019 -
Telling Truth to PowerWhat's the biggest challenge facing intelligence? Telling truth to power when the news is bad or the reality unwelcome.July 15, 2019 -
The Duty of Bureaucratic DisobedienceSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton reminds us that a little bureaucratic disobedience, i.e. doing nothing, is the best course of...May 28, 2019 -
Trying to Help from OutsideSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton provides sound advice for those producing reports and analyses.April 25, 2019 -
There Are Lives Behind IssuesSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton reminds us that there are real human lives behind those issues we get so preoccupied...April 8, 2019 -
Writing Intelligible IntelligenceSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton draws on his experience for a simple list of dos and don'ts for report (and...March 13, 2019 -
It’s the Memo, StupidSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton reminds us that simple sentences using simple words can be the most effective at delivering...March 12, 2019 -
Lessons for Number TwosSMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton provides lessons for Seconds in Command ("Number Twos") from his days at the National Intelligence...February 25, 2019 -
Remembering Old LessonsIn the first of a new series, "Lessons from the Frontline of Defense & Government," SMA Executive Advisor Greg Treverton...February 22, 2019 -
EVMS Internal Surveillance: Something worth doingAn effective EVMS surveillance process ensures key elements of the system are maintained over time and on subsequent applications.October 1, 2018 -
Improving Military HealthcareCan the Defense Healthcare Agency (DHA) become a leader in the federal health sector and the broader US healthcare industry?April 2, 2018 -
Who is Driving Your Drug Price Transparency Compliance Strategy—the Legislature or Your C-Suite?A wave of state and local legislation has the potential to change the profitability and business models of the pharmaceutical industry....March 26, 2018 -
Avoid Strategic Surprises – Improve Forecasts in New MarketsLarge companies are susceptible to poor forecasts as extend home market success beyond their borders. Our analysis shows that compared...January 17, 2018 -
Accelerating Proposals to the Speed of CommerceFor a client commercial proposal process, SMA Associate Liz Chamberlain leveraged her 30+ years of proposal experience in competing for...November 17, 2017 -
Government Procurements Delayed By Up To 544 days!Our recent analysis shows that 89% of Government procurements miss their target date.November 10, 2017 -
Parker Aerospace PP&C and Engineering SupportSMA and Parker Aerospace teamed over the past 6 years to mature their PMO capabilities, earning a PMO of the...August 18, 2017 -
Start Young - The Benefits of Hiring High School InternsLanding an internship at SMA turned out to be one of the best decisions of Kate Cohee’s high school careerMarch 24, 2017 -
Virtual Desktops: Organizing Your Screen Space in Windows 10Wordman shows how you can easily organize your Microsoft Windows workspace for multiple projects using Virtual DesktopsFebruary 20, 2017 -
Ranking the Pentagon’s Top SuppliersWe aggregated the last 3 year’s US DoD SSIP data for the top suppliers at the US Army, Navy, and...January 23, 2017
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A Space Odyssey: A Look at Microsoft Word’s Odd SpacesWordman looks into Microsoft Word’s odd spaces, and how to use them in proposals and other technical documents.December 12, 2016
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