A Risk-Based Approach to Test and Evaluation

Abstract

Our current fiscal environment requires serious consideration of new test and evaluation strategies that provide an accurate assessment of program risks. With this in mind, is it truly possible to transition from the conventional test and evaluation process to a risk-based model? Risk, by definition, is a measure of future uncertainties in achieving program performance goals and objectives within defined cost, schedule, and performance constraints. Risk can be associated with all aspects of a program, such as technology maturity, supplier capability, design maturation, and demonstrated performance against planned performance. Traditionally, this assessment of risk and the development of mitigation strategies have most often resided exclusively within the program manager's domain. The purpose of this Strategic Research Paper is to determine the viability of a risk-based approach to test and evaluation. Research is based on a limited population of the total materiel acquisition community and represents an Alpha test of the stated issue. If proved viable with follow-on research, the risk-based approach would provide senior decision-makers within the Department of the Army with an independent perspective of risks based on test data, synthetic modeling data, and other relevant analysis. The target population for this research effort will be the Army Test and Evaluation Command and Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, both located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The methods that will be used to support this research effort will be a quantitative analysis based on a 20-question survey.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA563261

Entities

People

  • Ira J. Hines Ii

Organizations

  • Defense Acquisition University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Complex Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Improvised Explosive Devices
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Operations
  • Operations Research
  • Program Management
  • Risk Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics