Lessons From Army System Developments. Volume 1: Research Questions and Analysis
Abstract
This report documents the results of a multi-year research project which employed a structured case study approach to examine-the history and processes that had resulted in the introduction of a number of technology-based Army systems in time to make a positive contribution to the outcome of Desert Storm. In addition to the case studies documented in Volume II of this report, a common set of data was obtained and analyzed to identify factors contributing to successful systems developments this) Volume I contains the results of this analysis. Several of the statistically significant relationships found involve factors that are related to the stability of the program. When key members of the project team left the program too early, project outcome suffered. Further, both project funding cutbacks and project team turn-over negatively correlated with the quality of the testing program and the timeliness of key test events. These two attributes of the testing program also had the strongest correlation with project outcomes. In addition, changes in systems requirements during development correlated with poor project cost performance, and, finally, turn-over in key user representative personnel correlated negatively with system performance in the field. A central conclusion from this study is that shorter development cycle times favorably correlate with key project outcome variables, largely by minimizing the exposure of the project to destabilizing influences which have also been shown to correlate negatively with these same outcome variables.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA517115
Entities
People
- Richard G. Rhoades
- William A. Lucas
Organizations
- University of Alabama in Huntsville