Impact of Changes in the Defense System Acquisition Cycle on Design Team Capability Retention.
Abstract
This study evaluates the effect of post-1968 changes in the defense system acquisition process on the ability of the aircraft industry to retain the capability of their design teams. Some of the changes as applied in the current economic environment have had an adverse impact upon industry's ability to retain the capability of its design teams, e.g. the fly-before-buy approach appears to lengthen the already extended acquisition cycle, which serves to further aggravate industry's problem regarding design team capability retention. In addition, the 'advanced development prototype' appears to be losing out to Service-laboratory-sponsored Advanced Technology Demonstrator programs. Since these technology base-programs are usually designed to allow increased laboratory involvement, the resulting decrease in design team utilization would adversely impact critical elements of the team needed to develop operational systems. Since overall design team capability is an important national asset, a coherent government policy -- supported by both the legislative and executive branches--is required. Although this policy may well lead to the demise of less successful design teams, the remaining teams should provide sufficient capability and competition if they are adequately supported by a 'market' whose long-term decline will apparently continue.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA027550
Entities
People
- W. Lee. Boddie
Organizations
- Defense Systems Management College