Overcoming the S&T Assessment Uncertainty Principle: An Approach to Enterprise-Wide Assessment of the DOD S&T Program
Abstract
The science and technology (S&T) program supported by the Department of Defense (DoD) is a large undertaking (approximately $11 billion in 2004) aimed at ensuring continued technological superiority of the U.S. military. Exercising stewardship over this program is of great importance. In this regard the program is subjected to numerous reviews dealing with its relevance, viability, and productivity. At various levels of detail, every element of the program is reviewed. However, the sum of all the reviews does not constitute an assessment of the entire DoD S&T enterprise. This study examines why this is the case and examines the prospects for rectifying this situation. An effective enterprise-wide assessment (EWA) would contribute to the ability of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) to provide oversight to enhance the content of the S&T portfolio through metrics of program quality, performance, and relevance. It would increase collaboration between projects with aligned objectives and provide a knowledge base of the S&T program sufficient to justify the investment to the services and Congress. An effective EWA also would support the services in that it would focus their internal topical reviews to problem areas identified in the EWA. It also would provide them a broader insight into the entire S&T program and their place within it. This would result in greater program coordination and reliance on other service programs. Also, an EWA could form the basis of an interrelated community of experts across the entire S&T spectrum.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA462787
Entities
People
- Elihu Zimet
- Fred Saalfeld
- Timothy Lo
- Timothy P. Coffey
Organizations
- National Defense University