Acquisition Reform as Performance Art: Re-forming Acquisition Reform

Abstract

Defense acquisition outcomes are the result of a complex combination of actions and inactions by members of Congress, the military Services, and the defense industry. Collectively, these elements comprise a major part of what one might call the defense acquisition system. Yet acquisition reforms, when implemented, tend to focus narrowly on changing the internal acquisition processes of the military Services. This approach has failed to produce substantial improvements. If we are to achieve significant improvements, acquisition reforms should address the broader defense acquisition system. Simply modifying the militarys acquisition processes is inadequate to the task of generating actual improvements. It is time to consider seriously the prospect of re-forming acquisition reform.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2011
Accession Number
AD1016048

Entities

People

  • Ross A. Jackson

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Cost Overruns
  • Costs
  • Defense Industry
  • Defense Systems
  • Economics
  • Lessons Learned
  • Market Economy
  • Military Acquisition
  • Political Systems
  • Systems Approach
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Strategic Security Studies