Army Reserve Capabilities-Based Prioritization Study

Abstract

This study was conducted for the United States Army Reserve (USAR), Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E) Directorate, as part of the Army Studies Program. In it, we were asked to identify a reproducible, quantifiable, qualifiable and auditable methodology for the prioritization and allocation of finite Army resources. The methodology must consider Army preferences for programs, determine individual program value, and link individual program value to available resources in order to develop a programming recommendation. We began our study with a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder analysis designed to gain an understanding of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System (PPBES); to identify the current issues and problems associated with PPBES; and to develop a set of candidate methodological approaches. Based upon that research, we identified the required characteristics of the methodological approach; compiled a comprehensive list of potential alternatives; evaluated and compared the alternatives; and recommended a value-focused thinking (VFT) approach to resource allocation. We then conducted a proof-of-principle application of the VFT approach to a more narrowly-focused decision context involving the allocation of resources to potential USAR accession and retention incentives. We were then able to extrapolate the results to a larger Army resource allocation problem. Finally, we developed a tool, called the Value-Based Evaluation Support Tool (VBEST), to facilitate the application of our recommended approach. This report describes the conduct of the study in detail to include the background research; methodology identification, comparison, and recommendation; proof-of-principle application; and the resulting decision support tool.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 15, 2008
Accession Number
ADA500176

Entities

People

  • Andrew Cherry
  • Eric S. Tollefson
  • Jeffrey Schamburg

Organizations

  • United States Army Training and Doctrine Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Base Closures
  • Business Administration
  • Employment
  • Information Systems
  • Literature Surveys
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Administration
  • Recreation
  • Students
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.
  • Systems Analysis and Design