Controversy in Soviet R&D: The Airship Case Study
Abstract
This report is part of a broad program on Decisionmaking Processes in Military Organizations, sponsored by the Air Force under Project RAND. A major segment of this program is directed toward the study of the performance of Soviet research and development, particularly in the area of aviation, A general study on R&D in Soviet aviation has already been published. To complement that work, and to test the generality of its conclusions, a case study was conducted on the debate in the Soviet Union, beginning in 1955 and continuing to the present time, about whether airships should be produced and utilized domestically. The airship case study focuses on the process of generating requirements within the Soviet aviation industry -- that is, on how decisions are made to produce a particular product. Airships, of course, do not constitute a major weapons system of principal concern to U.S. military planners. However, in the Soviet Union the same institutions that are involved in deciding whether or not to produce airships are involved in other aircraft development decisions, both civilian and military. Thus, generalizations from the study of this controversy may yield additional insights into the requirements-generation process. This particular topic was selected as a case study primarily because it permitted analysis of the influence of organization and structure on the Soviet R&D decisionmaking process and on the basis of its accessibility.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- ADA596129
Entities
People
- Heather Campbell
Organizations
- RAND Corporation