Report of the AMC Software Task Force

Abstract

Computer software is a necessary element in Army weapon systems but that software is contributing an inordinate amount of cost and risk to system acquisition. This report identifies the problems which the Army is facing and will continue to face unless corrective actions are taken. The report builds on and is consistent with a number of previous studies, investigations, and reports. It identifies recommended actions and calls on the Army to establish an orderly, task-oriented assault on the problems. The report suggests there are three primary challenges to the Army: reduce the growth in the cost of software the Army is acquiring, bring the process to develop and maintain software under control, and maintain and extend the technological superiority of Army weapon systems through a focused investment in software. A taxonomy of software problems is presented which groups today's software problems into five areas: capability of people, absence of a clear and cogent software policy, lack of process controls, an absence of adequate procedures, and failure to capitalize on and plan for technology. The report recommends an integrated course of action to try to gain control of the software in the Army's software systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1989
Accession Number
ADA237173

Entities

People

  • Chris Neubert
  • Gerry Smith
  • James A. Hess
  • Peter Fonash
  • Ronald Keenan

Organizations

  • Defense Science Board

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Application Software
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Information Systems
  • Management Personnel
  • Operating Systems
  • Organizational Structure
  • Performance Tests
  • Processing Equipment
  • Software Design
  • Software Development
  • Software Metrics
  • Software Testing
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Computer science
  • Engineering

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Software Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design