Update 2016: Considerations for Using Agile in DoD Acquisition

Abstract

This report, an update to a 2010 report, Considerations For Using Agile In DoD Acquisitions, addresses developments in commercial Agile practices as well as the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition environment. It covers some previously unanswered questions and asks some new ones. It includes new research, examples of Agile in practice, and policy updates. Continuing with the 2010 reports theme, this report updates the exploration of the questions: Can Agile be used in the DoD environment? If so, how? It includes lessons learned from DoD programs that have employed Agile and information gleaned from myriad articles and books on Agile. While this report does not pretend to cover every paper or thought published about Agile in the DoD world, it provides an updated overview of some challenges in using Agile, an overview of how some programs have addressed these challenges, and some additional recommendations on dealing with these challenges. The intended audience is policy makers, program office staff, and software development contractors who are contemplating proposing the use of Agile methods. We hope this report stimulates new discussion about adopting Agile in the DoD world and equips practitioners with the information they need to make informed decisions.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2016
Accession Number
AD1045012

Entities

People

  • Alfred Schenker
  • Charles Hammons
  • Daniel Burton
  • Daniel R. Ward
  • Mary Ann Lapham
  • Ray Williams
  • Suzanne Miller

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Agile Software Development
  • Air Force
  • Application Software
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Engineers
  • Extreme Programming
  • Information Systems
  • Lessons Learned
  • Management Personnel
  • Organizational Structure
  • Software Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Special Operations Command

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Library and Information Science
  • Systems Analysis and Design