Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970-
Other Authors: Warren P. Seering.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54850
_version_ 1811096658658721792
author Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970-
author2 Warren P. Seering.
author_facet Warren P. Seering.
Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970-
author_sort Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970-
collection MIT
description Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009.
first_indexed 2024-09-23T16:46:59Z
format Thesis
id mit-1721.1/54850
institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology
language eng
last_indexed 2024-09-23T16:46:59Z
publishDate 2010
publisher Massachusetts Institute of Technology
record_format dspace
spelling mit-1721.1/548502019-04-11T00:29:52Z Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970- Warren P. Seering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division. Engineering Systems Division. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2009. This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 218-223). Large, complex systems development programs in the Department of Defense are finding it more difficult to deliver desired capabilities to the end user on time and on budget than ever before. Evidence exists that almost all developmental programs on record are over cost and schedule, costing the Department and ultimately the U.S. taxpayer billions of dollars more than anticipated. Numerous studies over many decades have addressed various aspects of the problems plaguing these efforts with many recommendations. Unfortunately, most of these recommendations have been ignored or poorly implemented with limited success. This work embodies an exploratory systems approach to characterize the system of acquiring large, complex, socio-technological systems for the Department of Defense. Through a series of qualitative studies and in-depth interviews with individuals working in the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS), the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process, and the Acquisition system, a model of the larger "enterprise of acquisition" or Acquisition System was developed. The model has a scope ranging from the very early beginnings of any program through the conclusion of developmental activities. The methodology used consisted of stringing together the individual pieces of the system defined by probabilistic distributions of time and corresponding probabilistic decision points into a model ideal for discrete-event simulation. An extensive program of verification and validation of the model was carried out to increase confidence in the model and its simulation outcomes. (cont.) Experimental system interventions, designed to mimic potential policy interventions and/or system changes, were introduced into the model and the corresponding outcomes analyzed. Results show several interventions have varying degrees of influence and suggest no single antidote exists for solving the problems related to Acquisition. Furthermore, many of the outcomes of the system can be described as emergent behaviors versus problems stemming from poor program management, program risk management, or requirements management. by Joseph Robert Wirthlin. Ph.D. 2010-05-25T19:20:11Z 2010-05-25T19:20:11Z 2009 2009 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54850 608202544 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 2 v. (906 p.) application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Engineering Systems Division.
Wirthlin, Joseph Robert, 1970-
Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title_full Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title_fullStr Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title_full_unstemmed Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title_short Identifying enterprise leverage points in Defense Acquisition Program performance
title_sort identifying enterprise leverage points in defense acquisition program performance
topic Engineering Systems Division.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54850
work_keys_str_mv AT wirthlinjosephrobert1970 identifyingenterpriseleveragepointsindefenseacquisitionprogramperformance