Publications by Defense A R Journal

Publications by Defense A R JournalResent articles by the "Defense A R Journal" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:10:46 GMT360Free Online Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 Games for good--how DAU is using games to enhance learning: games and simulations at DAU.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Games+for+good--how+DAU+is+using+games+to+enhance+learning%3a+games+and...-a0214101365
The use of games has become a popular initiative in many learning organizations. The Defense Acquisition University, by targeting enhanced outcomes for learners and using innovative, multiple approaches to develop games and simulations that are engineered to yield performance-oriented outcomes, has created a unique opportunity to reach an evolving workforce on multiple levels. Through...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 A multi-criteria decision model for migrating legacy system architectures into open system and system-of-systems architectures.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+multi-criteria+decision+model+for+migrating+legacy+system...-a0214101364
Full-spectrum dominance in battlefield, cost-effective development of capabilities, timely reaction to evolving threats and technologies, and system and process flexibility can be greatly enabled through the application of open systems strategies. Such strategies are effective business and technical approaches for assessing the appropriateness of developing modular and open architectures...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 Can applying organic and industry best practices improve foreign military sales supportability?http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Can+applying+organic+and+industry+best+practices+improve+foreign...-a0214101363
This article provides a brief overview of Foreign Military Sales (FMS), its role in the ever changing dynamic environment that we live in, and finally how some of the specific FMS processes can be improved through the application of logistics best practices and initiatives. The ultimate goal is to continually improve the processes associated with FMS to create a win-win scenario for...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 Application of systems engineering to rapid prototyping for close air support.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Application+of+systems+engineering+to+rapid+prototyping+for+close+air...-a0214101362
Twenty-first century military operations have brought forth many new challenges for the Armed Forces of the United States, One such challenge is with new operating environments, where current systems are not always effective. While it is desirable to apply a systems engineering approach to best meet critical user needs, there may be a misconception that systems engineering...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 Joint acquisition command doctrine--a success story.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Joint+acquisition+command+doctrine--a+success+story.-a0214101361
In the past, war planners typically treated acquisition as an afterthought. Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Joint Task Force commanders were not initially afforded the full value of acquisition capabilities to buy local resources and manage the exploding number of contractors in the Area of Responsibility (AOR). Recognizing this shortfall, DoD created the Joint Contracting...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 What performance based logistics is and what it is not--and what it can and cannot do.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/What+performance+based+logistics+is+and+what+it+is+not--and+what+it...-a0214101360
Although Performance Based Logistics (PBL) sustainment strategies have been used successfully for the last decade, mispercelotions persist. This article discusses what PBL is and is not; and what it can and cannot do for the military services, program managers, and ultimately the warfighter. PBL is not about contractors on the battlefield or outsourcing organic workload. It is about...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 From amorphous to defined: balancing risks in evolutionary acquisition.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/From+amorphous+to+defined%3a+balancing+risks+in+evolutionary...-a0214101359
Incremental development entails the deliberate deferral of work to a subsequent period, using technology maturity as the measure of readiness. This article illustrates that this approach might enable more effective delivery of the first increment with a comparison of two major systems as case studies. But there are some inherent risks in an evolutionary approach as well, and the...]]>Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:00:00 From the editor.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/From+the+editor.-a0214101358
I am excited to announce the lineup of research articles for Issue 52 of the Defense Acquisition Review Journal. The first article, "From Amorphous to Defined: Balancing Risks in Evolutionary Acquisition," by COL John T. Dillard, USA (Ret.) and David N. Ford, provides a thought-provoking analysis of Evolutionary Acquisition (EA). Their goal was to offer meaningful and practical...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 "Show me the money".http://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Show+me+the+money%22.-a0205637489The recent article entitled, "How to Make Incentive and Award Fees Work," makes a case for program success using multiple incentives and subjective award fees, was originally published in the Defense Acquisition Review Journal (ARJ), Issue 48, July 2008, Vol. 16, No. 2. The article used a definition of program success as the perception from the program managers and contracting officers...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Twenty minutes from now.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Twenty+minutes+from+now.-a0205637488The Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition workforce is reaching a point at which change--rapid, relentless change-will become the norm. The global marketplace and the billions of consumers that make up the cyberspace called Web 2.0 will drive this change and wield influence over its features, products, and capabilities available to the DoD enterprise--capabilities represented by words such...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Determination of an achievable materiel availability for the joint air-to-ground missile.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Determination+of+an+achievable+materiel+availability+for+the+joint...-a0205637487When Am (Materiel Availability), which marks a significant departure from Ao (Operational Availability), was established as a fleet-level Key Performance Parameter (KPP) by Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memorandum 161-06, issued by Navy Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani on August 17, 2006, the Joint Attack Munitions Systems (JAMS) Project Office Logistics Directorate was tasked to develop...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Financial accountability at the DoD: reviewing the bidding.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Financial+accountability+at+the+DoD%3a+reviewing+the+bidding.-a0205637486The Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990 requires the DoD to produce private sector-style financial statements that can win unqualified opinions from auditors. After many years of effort to comply, the department is now projecting that its balance sheets will not be ready until 2017 and is unable to predict when its income statements will be ready. Given that discouraging situation,...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Program manager as chief executive officer (CEO): leading with accountability and empowerment.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Program+manager+as+chief+executive+officer+(CEO)%3a+leading+with...-a0205637485Program managers (PM) who view themselves as mere agents for the execution of program cost, schedule, and performance may be self-limiting. Rather, every PM should assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of his or her entrepreneurial "corporation" and use the tools of upper echelon leaders to manage programs with greater accountability and empowerment.

]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Transferring conventional munitions industrial base capabilities to the public sector.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Transferring+conventional+munitions+industrial+base+capabilities+to...-a0205637484The conventional munitions industrial base today is a declining industry for which 56 percent of the end items have no peacetime demand, capital assets have been allowed to deteriorate, and 70 percent of the firms have exited leaving over 300 critical single points of failure. J. Taggart's economic framework, published in Strategy formulation in declining industries: A Biology Paradigm (1995),...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Modeling the performance and risks of evolutionary acquisition.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Modeling+the+performance+and+risks+of+evolutionary+acquisition.-a0205637483Evolutionary acquisition mandates incremental development for all programs. This policy seeks to improve development project performance, but may increase some risks. Computational modeling using systems dynamics reveals that evolutionary acquisition can increase concurrency and the need for coordination. The result is earlier delivery of the first increment, but later and more costly delivery...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 The future use of corporate warriors with the U.S. Armed Forces: legal, policy, and practical considerations and concerns.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+future+use+of+corporate+warriors+with+the+U.S.+Armed+Forces%3a...-a0205637482The privatization of warfare has led to many interesting and complex issues. Among the myriad of: issues is what role, if any, private security contractors should play in augmenting the U.S. armed forces future force structure. Against this backdrop, the article highlights certain considerations policymakers, military leaders, and force planners should balance when analyzing the future use of...]]>Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:00:00 Letter from the editor.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Letter+from+the+editor.-a0205637481I am pleased to announce the line-up of articles for Issue 51 of the Defense Acquisition Review Journal (ARJ). In addition to six acquisition research articles, we are introducing a new section called the Technology Corner. This section is intended for general use by the DoD acquisition workforce and provides ARJ subscribers and readers with a look at some advanced educational/communications...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 A new acquisition brew: systems engineering and lean six sigma make a great mix.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+new+acquisition+brew%3a+systems+engineering+and+lean+six+sigma+make+a...-a0198995418What do you get when you mix together Systems Engineering (SE) and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) professionals? More than likely, you will get a high-octane exchange. If you need to stoke the discussion, ask them to describe what matters most in the daily execution of their professions. Oddly enough, they would probably add the same ingredients. If you asked them what separated their two disciplines,...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 Shaping the life cycle logistics workforce to achieve desired sustainment outcomes.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Shaping+the+life+cycle+logistics+workforce+to+achieve+desired...-a0198995417Analogous to the crew members of the fishing vessel Andrea Gail in the 2000 film of the same name, the Department of Defense (DoD) logistics community faces a "perfect storm" of creatively having to support an inventory of rapidly aging weapon systems (many of which are well past their originally envisioned design lives) in the face of potentially declining sustainment funding, higher than...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 Acquisition workforce challenge--motivation for government vs. industry employment.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Acquisition+workforce+challenge--motivation+for+government+vs....-a0198995416The federal government does not have the manpower or resources to staff and execute major multi-million dollar, multi-year, complex systems and services programs. Because of this shortfall, the government contracts with qualified prime and subcontractors to augment the government workforce and provide the quality systems engineering, analysis, and systems implementation services to...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 The benefits and limitations of telecommuting.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+benefits+and+limitations+of+telecommuting.-a0198995415Telecommuting has gained considerable attention in recent years. This is due in part to organizations, both in the private sector as well as the public sector, using telecommuting to accomplish organizational goals and to affect the organization's "bottom-line" results. This can be seen in such organizations as AT&T, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. Within AT&T, one-third of the company's...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 Leadership and cultural change: the challenge to acquisition workforce retention.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Leadership+and+cultural+change%3a+the+challenge+to+acquisition...-a0198995414As our case is new, so must we think anew, and act anew.

President Abraham Lincoln, 1862

As the 21 st century begins to close in on its first decade, a management topic that is prominently discussed within all organizations trying to survive in today's global environment is that of human capital. Despite the best efforts of innumerable organizations employing a multitude of...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 Keeping the talent: understanding the needs of engineering and scientists in the defense acquisition workforce.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Keeping+the+talent%3a+understanding+the+needs+of+engineering+and...-a0198995413The United States federal government is like most organizations with respect to the need for talented personnel. The ability to attract and retain talent along with increased competition for talented personnel is also common to most organizations. However, the government has a particular issue not faced by other large organizations in that the majority of the federal workforce can retire...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 What ever happened to certification?http://www.thefreelibrary.com/What+ever+happened+to+certification%3f-a0198995412
The primary purpose of this research was to investigate how well the training, education, and experience requirements of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) have been implemented by the Department of Defense (DoD). If the DoD is to win the war for talent, it must be concerned about the professionalism and competence of its acquisition workforce. First, a...]]>Wed, 1 Apr 2009 00:00:00 Defense ARJ executive editor.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Defense+ARJ+executive+editor.-a0198995411Welcome to this very special issue of the Defense Acquisition Review Journal (ARJ). In 2008, the DAU Alumni Association (DAUAA), along with the DAU Research Department, initiated the annual Hirsch Research Paper Competition for the DoD acquisition community (including all members of the Defense Acquisition Workforce, the DAU faculty, and the entire commercial defense industry). In 2009, the...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Do team goals affect team focus and performance? Research study of DAU's program management office course (PMT 352B).http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Do+team+goals+affect+team+focus+and+performance%3f+Research+study+of...-a0192436761

Teams can be a significant resource to business leaders and can help lead to greater program successes. This study was conducted on student project teams in 12 classes of a Defense Acquisition University (DAU) executive-level, 6-week program management class in six different locations. The study not only underscores the significance of team focus on performance, but also...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Reforming how Navy shipbuilding contracts adjust for material-cost risk.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Reforming+how+Navy+shipbuilding+contracts+adjust+for+material-cost...-a0192436760

This article describes how the U.S. Navy structures fixed-price and fixed-price, incentive-fee shipbuilding contracts and how labor- and material-cost indexes can mitigate shipbuilder risk in either type of contract. The Navy frequently uses the Steel Vessel material-cost index, a Bureau of Labor Statistics-derived cost index based on the mix of materials in a typical commercial...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 The application of supply network optimization and location analysis to a Dod repair supply chain.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+application+of+supply+network+optimization+and+location+analysis...-a0192436759A major responsibility of the military and its suppliers is to provide an adequate supply of parts and materials to support warfighters throughout the world. This article reviews a process used by an Army global supply chain to make a location decision for a critical distribution center. Additionally, it demonstrates the applicability of network optimization techniques to a DoD supply chain...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Training architecture practices in Army acquisition: an approach to training software architecture practices in U.S. Army acquisition.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Training+architecture+practices+in+Army+acquisition%3a+an+approach+to...-a0192436758Technology management skills in the Department of Defense (DoD) are not keeping pace with the advanced systems acquired by the DoD, especially as software becomes more prevalent in those systems. For a number of years, software architecture practices have been identified as enablers of program success, yet evidence suggests that too little attention is paid to the topic. The Army Strategic...]]>Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Maximizing warfighter capability using surveyed necessity measurement: application to the USAF F-15C fleet.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Maximizing+warfighter+capability+using+surveyed+necessity...-a0192436757Within the Department of Defense, with changing missions to counter dynamic and asymmetrical threats, the acquisition workforce strives to maximize capability for joint warfighting. How acquisition professionals measure and select capability improvements for the nation's weapon systems is a perpetual challenge, made even more complex with constrained defense budgets. This study identifies a...]]>