Rationale for Adopting a New Portfolio Program

Ansari X-Prize Program Proposal Tim Truitt Strategic Project Management Incorporation into Existing SST Launch Vehicle Program Creation of New SST Launch Vehicle Program Creation of SST Launch Vehicle Portfolio Program Recommendation and Course of Action Space System Technologies (SST) has the strategy and ability to provide clients with assembled launch vehicles that meet their needs. SST is positioned within the industry to form long-term relationships with next-generation companies offering next-generation flight models. Today, the next generation of flight is here and the destination is Space.

Scale Composites, led by Burt Rutan, is focused on providing the latest in aerospace technology to luxury-ride clients seeking to see Space first-hand. This authentic, luxury ride will be in demand around the world; therefore, we recommend that the X-Prize vehicles first be incorporated into an existing program and then, if demand is growing that it then become a portfolio project for SST. Project Overview The Ansari X-Prize competition brought the next generation of aerospace technology to life with the opportunity of making weekly trips to space a reality.

SST can capitalize on this reality by providing assembled launch pads for Scale Composites and any other organization looking to take part in this exciting new flight industry, which is the culmination of a technological evolution from "airplanes to spaceships" (Ansari X-Prize, 2015). Incorporation into Existing SST Launch Vehicle Program Incorporation of the X-Prize program into one of our current SST rocket assembly program would allow us to employ methods already in use.

Yet, the specifics of the X-Prize assembly would require education, time, and training of staff in order to see that the needs of the client are met. Thus, while incorporating the X-Prize program into an existing program could reduce SST's need for more resources, the incorporation itself will require training and specialization, which means investing in employee education and retention (Glanz, 2002).

However, this cost could be offset by the fact that the X-Prize program itself is one marketed to a higher class, which suggests that there is significant potential for this line (Ton, 2014). Creation of New SST Launch Vehicle Program The creation of a new SST launch vehicle program would make more practical sense than incorporation simply because resources could be allocated exclusively to this program, which will have its own attendant needs.

Such allocation will of course have its operation-costs and therefore it is important to determine the metrics that will need to be met and whether they are feasible before creation is begun (Glazer, 2011). This option is limited to the resources available and the time with which the administration can implement training.

Creation of SST Launch Vehicle Portfolio Program A portfolio program would be most practical of the three options, as long as it can be determined that the benefits of a SST launch vehicle portfolio would see the demand that market analysts currently predict (Glanz, 2002).

Scaled Composites offers the potential for this portfolio to become a major one for SST; however, a portfolio program looks for growth (Ton, 2014) and so before beginning the program it would be necessary to establish that this new sector is indeed one that will be in demand (Glazer, 2011). The potential is there, as the X-Prize program suggests.

Recommendation and Course of Action To retain dominant market share through exclusive assembly, packaging and delivery of launch equipment, SST should take advantage of the opportunity to, first, incorporate the X-Prize program into one of our existing SST launch programs, and, second, if the X-Prize program can be established as a major one it can be later spun off into its own portfolio program. By that point, workers will be trained and available in order to supervise the transition.

Therefore it is the recommendation here that the X-Prize program be researched in terms of market conditions beyond Scaled Composites demand and whether there will be significant advantage to developing a unique portfolio program customized to meet the needs of this new sector, stimulated by the X-Prize program. The course of action best suited for this discover for the present time is to incorporate the X-Prize program into an existing program while research is conducting and more clients can be.