Test and Evaluation Management Guide
Abstract
The fundamental purpose of test and evaluation in a defense system's development and acquisition program is to identify the areas of risk to be reduced or eliminated. During the early phases of development, T&E is conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of conceptual approaches, to minimize design risk, to identify design alternatives, to compare and analyze tradeoffs, and to estimate operational effectiveness and suitability. As a system undergoes design and development, the emphasis in testing moves gradually from development test and evaluation (DT&E), which is concerned chiefly with the attainment of engineering design goals, to operational test and evaluation (OT&E), which focuses on questions of operational effectiveness, suitability, and supportability. T&E has its origins in the testing of hardware; this tradition is heavily embedded in its vocabulary and procedures. The advent of software intensive systems has brought with it new challenges and new approaches to testing that are discussed in Chapter 12 of this management guide. What remains constant throughout the T&E process, whether testing hardware or software, is the need for thorough, logical, systematic, and early test planning and the feedback of well documented, unbiased test and evaluation results to system developers, users, and decisionmakers. T&E provides information to decision makers responsible for making the investment decision to procure a new system for deciding on the most effective use of limited resources. Moreover, T&E provides information to operational users to support the development of effective tactics, doctrine, and procedures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA221632
Entities
People
- Jacqueline C. Hamilton
- Stuart K. Purks
Organizations
- Braddock Dunn & McDonald