Who is using the U.S. Army Enterprise Strategic Management System (SMS) in their organization? Is it a viable replacement for Powerpoint?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 22:56:24 -0500

I feel that SMS has the potential to replace Powerpoint as the preferred briefing tool. For those organizations that are using SMS, is it being used to supplement or replace Powerpoint?

For those not familiar with this Army System, I am including a few informational links:

http://www.army.mil/standto/archive_2015-01-29/

http://www.army.mil/article/117178/Integration_of_GFEBS_Data_into_the_Strategic_Management_System/

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 2:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:15:54 -0400

SMS is used by the Combined Arms Center (CAC) to display performance management metrics. Currently it is supplementing powerpoint, but is moving towards the desired end state of replacing powerpoint. This is due to the fact that this is a tremendous culture change and CAC has been conducting training sessions to help everyone adapt to the new tool. A new deadline was just issued to have all metrics relating to certain projects and programs within CAC to be inputted into SMS. There are still some more growing pains, but they will eventually be worked out with continuous use.

SMS can replace powerpoint in terms of things that are quantifiable. For graphic heavy briefings (maps, etc), there are other solutions out there.

Here's the implementation site: https://combinedarmscenter.army.mil/cachq/G3/smsimp/SitePages/Home.aspx

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 3:32 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 15:32:40 -0400

I just fail to see why we would make a new tool for briefing when we can use a COTS item that meets the need 100% and is supported by a company on their own dime. The cost for microsoft office is minuscule compared to what we would pay to develop and maintain an email program, word document program, briefing program, spreadsheet application, etc.

On top of that we lose interoperability with other services, other government agencies, etc.