Defense Acquisition and the Case of the Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration Office: Ad Hoc Problem Solving as a Mechanism for Adaptive Change
Abstract
This reports describes the analysis and findings of our study exploring the drivers of successful organizational adaptation in the context of technology transition and acquisition within the Department of Defense (DoD). We began the study by seeking to understand what influences the successful transition of commercial off-the-shelf technologies to the warfighter. We focus on the Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) office as a successful case study. In the course of our investigation, we noted shifts in the organizational structure, goals, and business processes of the JCTD in response to the changing needs of warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan. Further exploration indicated that these shifts were not unique to the JCTD, but were examples of adaptive solutions to the changing needs faced by the DoD acquisition community. This led us to focus our research on better understanding what drives successful organizational adaptation. Our analysis suggests that ad hoc problem solving may be an undervalued, yet broadly practiced skill set within the DoD that may support adaptive responses to change by the acquisition community.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA591735
Entities
People
- John T. Dillard
- Kathryn Aten
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School