Cost and Schedule Growth During Weapon System Acquisition: An Investigation of the Impact of Selected Economic and Political Factors

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to document relationships between two weapon system program outcomes, cost and schedule growth, and aspects of the political and economic climate during system development. The data sample selected for study was aerospace industry-related weapon system programs. The central methodology used in the analysis included: (1) The identification of factors reflecting the economic and political conditions expected to be associated with program outcomes. (2) The creation of measures of cost and schedule growth. (3) Statistical analysis was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships between program outcomes and explanatory factors. The analysis was conducted to separately explain three program outcomes: development cost growth, development schedule growth, and total program cost growth. General conclusions from this study are that significant relationships to exist between cost and schedule growth and specific political and economic explanatory factors.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA242971

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey G. Wolf

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aerospace Industry
  • Computer Programs
  • Congress
  • Cost Estimates
  • Databases
  • Information Science
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Regression Analysis
  • Security
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Statistical Tests
  • System Software
  • United States
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).

Technology Areas

  • Space