A Novel Cost-Benefit Analysis for Evaluation of Complex Military Systems

Abstract

This article presents a systematic merit function approach for the comprehensive evaluation of competing military systems. The merit function is defined to be the ratio of quantified system benefit to system life cycle cost. System benefit is measured by a unique utility function that quantifies the degree to which a given system configuration satisfies an identified set of customer requirements. This measure is derived from the information contained in Quality Function Deployment tables. The second portion of the merit function is a life cycle cost measure that can be developed using any valid estimation technique. With this merit function approach, the cost effectiveness of complex systems can be quantified. Comparison of the quantified merit of competing systems then provides for objective and reliable decision making. The merit function approach is demonstrated by an evaluation of two attack helicopter configurations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA487938

Entities

People

  • Edward V. Byrns Jr.
  • J. E. Corban
  • Stephen A. Ingalls

Organizations

  • United States Military Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acquisition
  • Attack Helicopters
  • Classification
  • Complex Systems
  • Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Cost Effectiveness
  • Costs
  • Engineering
  • Information Operations
  • Life Cycle Costs
  • Life Cycles
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Military Academy

Fields of Study

  • Computer science

Readers

  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Software Engineering