An Examination of the Assumptions behind Attempts to 'Civilianize' DoD's Acquisition Process

Abstract

This study investigated the validity of a number of assumptions underlying Congressional proposals to form an elite civilian acquisition corps. Specific assumptions examined were (1) civilian personnel in DoD procurement have longer average tenure in specific program positions than their military counterparts, (2) a more centralized civilian acquisition agency (modeled after agencies found in Western European countries) would be more efficient and effective than DoD's current decentralized system, and (3) tenure is positively correlated with organizational effectiveness. A literature review of the latter two issues failed to support these assumptions. Tenure data collected from personnel assigned to Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH did not support the study hypothesis that military and civilian personnel in similar career fields have equal tenure.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA246862

Entities

People

  • Rolland J. Gagnon

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Business Administration
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Literature Surveys
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Organizational Psychology.