Success in Acquisition: Using Archetypes to Beat the Odds

Abstract

This project on patterns of failure is based on experiences with actual programs and employs concepts from systems thinking to analyze dynamics that have been observed in software development and acquisition practice. The software acquisition and development archetypes, based in part on the general systems archetypes, have been created as part of an ongoing effort to characterize and help manage patterns of counterproductive behavior in software development and acquisition. This report introduces key concepts in systems thinking and the general systems archetypes, and then applies these concepts to the software-reliant acquisition domain. Twelve selected software acquisition and development archetypes are each described and illustrated by a real-life scenario, and guidance is provided on both recovering from and preventing these dynamics. Finally, the authors consider implications of the work and future directions for research.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA532562

Entities

People

  • Linda Levine
  • William E. Novak

Organizations

  • Carnegie Mellon University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Climate Change
  • Complex Systems
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Death
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Engineering
  • Game Theory
  • Guidance
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • Organizational Structure
  • Software Development
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Software Engineering.