Professional Intern Program
Appendix C:  Oral Report Guidelines for Aerospace Technology Employees 

The primary objective of the PIP project is to demonstrate the intern's acquisition and application of technical skills related to his or her assigned work. The results of this assignment are reported through an oral presentation no later than two weeks before the end of the sixth month of program participation. The purpose of the presentation is to allow the intern to demonstrate his or her professional and technical knowledge, including research and analytical skills

The presentation should be designed in accordance with the following outline:

(1) Definition of the project or problem
(2) Method of research
(3) Scope of effort
(4) Role of the participant in effort
(5) Critical milestones
(6) Effort to date
(7) Accomplishments
(8) Future issues
(9) Summary statement
(10) Acronym list

The report is evaluated by a panel consisting of a standing chairman appointed by each directorate and two subject-matter experts (one of whom should be the intern's division, center, office, or laboratory chief) chosen by the intern and his or her supervisor [NOTE:  For participants from Code 500 - The standing chairperson should be someone from the directorate office.  Call the PIP Coordinator if you are unsure of who that is.  In the cases of Codes 550 and 580, the chairperson is the Division Chief, and the person from the Directorate office serves as a fourth member of the panel.]

The report is evaluated on the basis of (1) demonstrated professional and technical knowledge, (2) complexity of material, (3) organization of material, and (4) accomplishments.

The intern must receive a passing evaluation to complete this requirement. If the presentation is considered unsatisfactory, the panel may elect to have the oral presentation repeated at some later time, or the committee may make such other recommendations at it deems necessary.

The following information will be useful in preparing the PIP Project Oral Report.

Timing: Every effort should be made to give this report no later than two weeks before the end of the sixth month.

Presentation Length: The presentation should last 30 to 40 minutes, plus approximately 10 minutes for questions.

Topic Selection: Conception and development of the PIP project should begin early and, if possible, identified on the intern's IDP prepared during the first three weeks of the program. The topic of each PIP project must be selected by, or in consultation with, the intern's supervisor. The topic and project should be substantive, related to the intern's assigned work, and expected to stimulate professional development as well as demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities acquired while completing the project.

Preparation: An outline of the report should be reviewed by the supervisor and co-workers until they feel comfortable and the supervisor is satisfied.

Procedure: Once the intern has informally asked the panel members and PIP Coordinator by phone, e-mail, or in person, to attend the presentation and they agree, the intern must confirm the date, time, location, and title of presentation by memorandum or e-mail to all panel members with a copy to the supervisor and the PIP Coordinator, Code 114, at least one week before the presentation.

The PIP Coordinator or other representative from the Talent Cultivation Office brings the evaluation forms and certificate of completion form to the presentation and makes brief, general introductory remarks.

The supervisor introduces the intern and tells the audience about the intern's time in the program, the school from which he or she graduated, degree obtained, work assignments, and the reason the topic was chosen for the PIP project.

At the beginning of the presentation, the intern identifies the topic and indicates whether or not he or she will entertain questions during the presentation or if questions are to be held until the end of the presentation.

The PIP Project written report should generally be distributed to the panel members and PIP Coordinator after the presentation, but it or copies of viewgraphs or charts may be distributed before the presentation, if the intern believes it to be useful for the panel to have these available for reference during the presentation. Five copies (one for each panel member, the supervisor, and the PIP Coordinator) of all materials are required.

When the presentation is completed and the question-and-answer period is over, the intern and any other guests leave the room while the panel completes the evaluation. The supervisor may stay for the evaluation, but should not influence the panel member's decisions. The supervisor benefits from hearing the discussion and can then share this information with the intern. The PIP Coordinator also is present during the evaluation to assist panel members in completing the forms and answer any questions they may have about the evaluation procedure.

When the evaluations are completed, the intern is called back into the room. The chairperson (the highest-ranking panel member) reviews all comments offered by the panel members. In addition, the PIP Coordinator advises the panel and supervisor of the intern's status in the program and indicates any outstanding requirements for the intern's current level.

Finally, the chairperson and supervisor sign the presentation forms and submit them to the PIP Coordinator, and copies are made and given to the intern.