Information Knowledge Systems Management - Volume 12, issue 3-4

Authors: Rettaliata, Justin M. | Mazzuchi, Thomas A. | Sarkani, Shahram

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) performed a study on 11 Department of Defense (DoD) programs and compared how requirements were developed between DoD and private industry. The study found that the DoD did not follow good Systems Engineering practices when developing requirements, resulting in program cost and schedule overruns. With 2011 Defense spending at approximately $711B, it is undeniable that significant portions of these resources are spent on programs that meet their demise due …to poorly developed requirements documentation. Such requirements are poorly written, lack clear traceability and threaten the viability of the programs. The question arises whether these issues are due to poor training during the requirements definition process, lack of sufficient information and expertise available at program initiation, or a decrease in emphasis on establishing quality attributes for requirements. This study evaluates requirement attributes for materiel and non-materiel solution sets, and whether these attributes are the same or different. A case study example is presented identifying a selected set of requirement attributes and, with the aid of expert practitioner knowledge, these attributes are ranked in order of preference for materiel and non-materiel solutions sets. Show more

Keywords: Requirement attributes, department of defense (DoD) requirement generation, materiel solution, non-materiel solution, discrete choice model

DOI: 10.3233/IKS-140223

Citation: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 12, no. 3-4, pp. 233-254, 2015

Authors: DeVilliers, Edward M. | Sarkani, Shahram | Mazzuchi, Thomas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Functionality and performance have been key elements of requirements generation for major systems, especially within the Department of Defense (DoD). However, rising cost growth rates and decreasing funding have led to legislation requiring DoD to factor cost into requirements selection and to keep within cost estimates much earlier in a system's life cycle. This paper presents a framework that supports a combined cost and performance estimation model. It provides a greater emphasis on cost to assess …the impact of specific requirements selection for major hardware/software systems. This model is used within a synthesized process derived from new cases within DoD. It also uses Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO), specifically physical programming, as a means to better define and assess the optimal selection of capabilities in the requirements generation phase rather than the design phase. The result is a repeatable, analytical process and model that can be used throughout a system's life cycle. Show more

Keywords: Development planning, cost estimation, cost growth causes, framework, multi-objective optimization, physical programming, linear physical programming, case studies, defense acquisition, system dynamics

DOI: 10.3233/IKS-140224

Citation: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 12, no. 3-4, pp. 255-282, 2015

Article Type: Research Article

Citation: Information Knowledge Systems Management, vol. 12, no. 3-4, pp. 283-284, 2015