Rethinking Twenty-First Century Acquisition: Emerging Trends for Efficiency Ends
Steve G. Green , Martin J. Hornyak, and Conrad S. Ciccotello

Understanding three emerging public-sector trends - privatization, promotion of competition, and continuous process improvement - is essential to achieve efficiencies sought by acquisition managers in the 21st century.

Reengineering the RFP Process Through Knowledge-Based Systems
Dr. Mark E. Nissen

The author explores the use and utility of a knowledge-based system to support process redesign, and insight is provided into the potential of Al-based technologies to dramatically improve military procurement.

Think Tanks and The National Security Strategy Formulation Process: A Comparison of Current and American French Patterns
Robert Ranquet

This essay investigates the process by which national security strategy is formulated; it looks at the specific input to this process from the organizations known as think tanks. It also attempts to compare the ways think tanks influence the national security strategy formulation process in the United States and France.

A Holistic Management Framework for Software Acquisition
Richard M. Schooff, Yacov Y. Haimes, and Clyde G. Chittister

This article considers software acquisition issues being addressed in an ongoing project conducted by the Center for Risk Management of Engineering Systems at the University of Virginia, and the Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University.

Addressing Risk Management in Non-Developmental Items Acquisition Programs
Michael R. Steves

This articles makes specific recommendations for including Non-developmental Items (NDI) risk management in DoD policy.

Selecting Effective Acquisition Process Metrics
Booher, Jack W., Pinker, Aron, and Smith, Charles G.

Effective acquisition process metrics must be meaningful and conveniently calculated. The authors examine DoD initiatives aimed at measuring acquisition reform, identify a process for establishing metrics, suggest a basis for ordering metrics, and provide examples of metrics.

Commercial Best Practices and The DOD Acquisition Process
Chew, James, S.B.

The streamlined DoD acquisition process can be improved by studying the process used in the American automobile industry, specifically Chrysler, and by identifying "best practices" in the Chrysler product development process.

A Decision Support Procedure for Best Value Source Selections
Faris, Janine L., Lovelace, Joan S., and O'Connor, Michael F.

Practitioners of both analysis and acquisition examine the Best Value process, with an illustrative procedural template, followed by a discussion of methods for required cost-benefit tradeoffs, advice on legal procedures, and lessons learned.

Applying Dialectic to Acquisition Strategy
Peeler, David L., Jr.

Dialectic-the art of reasoning correctly-exposes the best in each program idea, and can be used to debate program issues and ultimately improve the acquisition process.

Transatlantic Cooperation Weapons Development: How Can We Better Ensure Success?
Davi M. D'Agostino

This paper evaluates and compares two multinational weapons development efforts in the MLRS Terminal Guidance Warhead and the Medium Extended-Range Air Defense System's especially their varied political and management issues.

Cost As An Independent Variable: Concepts and Risks
Rush, Dr. Benjamin C.

A look at CAIV definitions, concepts, process, and risks is enhanced with examples from eight flagship programs.

A Review of the Literature: Competition Versus Sole-Source Procurements
Washington, William N.

Some Studies show competitive (versus sole-source) procurement savings is not always substantial or is diminished by other costs.

Cost Estimating Risk and Cost Estimating Uncertainty Guidelines
Anderson, Timothy P., and Cherwonik, Jeffrey S.

Historically, program office estimates, as well as independent cost estimates, have emphasized use of point estimates rather than range estimates for cost analysis. Now, meaningful risk and uncertainty analyses, speeded by computer, provide significant insight to program managers and milestone decision authorities. Although from a Navy perspective to improve the cost analysis process, these procedures have broad implications.

Acquisition of State-of-the-Art Logistics Combat Support Systems: The Joing Logistics Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Program
Barrick, Alan E., and Alberts, Henry C.

The authors describe how changes in acquisition philosophy have been applied to rapidly develop, field, and operate a combat logistic support system, to include lessons learned from the JL-ACTD.

The Hidden Implications of Change
Clark, Dr. Rolf

National security planners require dynamic thinking to draw on insights and experiences for decision making. This article explores the dynamics of system change-accelerators, and the effects of stocks and flows which cause accelerators to occur.

A Theoretical Consideration of Acquisition Reform
Frank, Dr. Deborah F.

Acquisition reform ought to make us more efficient, improve our business practices and allow us to buy more with less. Numerous forces affect that goal-poor workmanship, protection against fraud and abuse, and certain socioeconomic goals. Reform requires a change in the relationship between the customer as well as the political system and its influence over the acquisition process.

The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act: Five Years Later
Garcia, Andrea; Keyner, Hugo; Robillard, Thomas J.; and VanMullekom, Mary

The authors examine defense acquisition workforce management, five years after the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, by comparing and contrasting the policies and procedures of the various Armed Services and Defense agencies. Their study finds two areas need improvement-the diversity of policies and practices, and disparity between civilian and military opportunities.

The Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act: Five Years Later
Garcia, Andrea; Keyner, Hugo; Robillard, Thomas J.; and VanMullekom, Mary

The authors examine defense acquisition workforce management, five years after the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, by comparing and contrasting the policies and procedures of the various Armed Services and Defense agencies. Their study finds two areas need improvement-the diversity of policies and practices, and disparity between civilian and military opportunities.

The Government Performance and Results Act: Strategic Planning of the Future
Harman, Beryl

By exploring the tenets of GPRA, we can shift the focus of government from program inputs to program execution by demonstrating the success of strategic planning and the achievement of intended objectives

Some New Approaches to "Reward" Contracting
Washington, William N.

To incentives change away from one-size-fits-all contracts and provide more information to the source selection authority for cost tradeoffs, three types of reward contracts-incentive, award fee, and research tournaments-can be used and improved to urge adoption of innovative processes in defense industry.

.Quality Function Deployment As A Tool For Implementing Cost As An Independent Variable
Wollover, David R.

No single CAIV implementation tool is robust enough to apply to all acquisition programs, because they vary greatly by scope, budget, and dimension. Quality Function Deployment (QFD)-one such tool-is applied to a generic acquisition program to provide a framework to transform vague customer requirement statements into useful technical performance measures.

Focused Graduate Education: An Invisible but Real Competitive Edge
Kankey, Dr. Roland D., Muczyk, Dr. Jan P, Ely Col Neal M. USAF

The future mission of the Air Force will require advance technology so that a smaller force can accomplish more.  Our acquisition corps must be intellectually capable, well educated, and trained.  Focused graduated education will be essential to sustain this effort.

Outland: The Vogue of DoD Outsourcing and Privatization
Brower, J. Michael

Examine outsourcing and privatizing carefully before us.  The effects may devastate the defense industry workforce and savings my evaporate over the long term.

Changing the Way We Assess Leadership
Hall, Dr. Mary-Jo

Change at the organizational level, the team level, and the personal level is required if the acquisition community is to operate within a constrained budget and with fewer people.   The author describes a method to assess the capability of current leadership, and proposes a theory of leadership appropriate to the times.

The Phoenix Rises
Davis, Col Randy, USAF, Phillips, LTC Bill, Vasquez, Lt Col Bud, USAF

Change at the organizational level, the team level, and the personal level is required if the acquisition community is to operate within a constrained budget and with fewer people.   The author describes a method to assess the capability of current leadership, and proposes a theory of leadership appropriate to the times.

The Phoenix Rises
Davis, Col Randy, USAF, Phillips, LTC Bill, Vasquez, Lt Col Bud, USAF

The troubled C-17 OGlobemaster IIIO airlifter rebounded form the brink of extinction to become a model of reduced-cost and ahead-of-schedule production through the determined use of integrated product team, the program executive officer system, and the process approach to manufacturing.

A Program Manager Talks: What contractors Should Know
Bennett, Deanna J.

Despite the drive for open communication and application of across-the-board rules, contractors distrust the governments acquisition process, penalize themselves through misunderstanding and make tactical and factual mistakes i

Estimation the Health Hazard Cost of Army Materiel: A Method for Helping Program Managers Make Informed Health Risk Decisions
Bratt, Gary M., Doganier, Donna M., Spencer, Clark O.

The authors discuss their model, designed to help the US Army estimate weapon system health hazards costs, based on the probability of a hazard occurring and the severity of that hazard.  The model provides health risk assessment and management, eliminates or controls health hazards, and controls life-cycle costs.  Application to other prevention disciplines within acquisition will provide decision makers with valuable quantitative information regarding cost avoidance.