Time as an Independent Variable: A Tool to Drive Cost Out of and Efficiency into Major Acquisition Programs

Abstract

With few exceptions, studies on improving the acquisition of weapon systems and services within the DoD observe that the process takes too long. A 2010 report of a study led by former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley entitled The QDR in Perspective: Meeting America s National Security Needs in the 21st Century: The Final Report of the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel supported this point of view, asserting that no defense program should exceed seven years. In a September 14, 2010, memorandum, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics called for the DoD acquisition community to set shorter program timelines and manage to them. But what is the right timeline for a given defense program? The author offers a methodology for making that determination through a process using time as an independent variable (TAIV )1 in a way similar to using cost as an independent variable (CAIV). Using TAIV establishes a credible way of reconciling cost, capability, and the time required to field a needed capability.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA584769

Entities

People

  • J. D. Patterson

Organizations

  • University of Tennessee system

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Commerce
  • Communities
  • Department Of Defense
  • Efficiency
  • Engineering
  • Governments
  • Logistics
  • Military Acquisition
  • National Security
  • Program Management
  • Public Policy
  • Security
  • Spiral Development
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Life Cycle Cost Analysis
  • Strategic Security Studies