1,721,018 research outputs found
Using the acquisition process to reduce the vulnerability of future systems to information warfare
Get PDFInformation warfare (IW) is a growing concern for the United States Army. The sophisticated, high-technology modern weapons systems upon which the U.S. Army heavily relies are increasing vulnerable to IW weapons and tactics. The acquisition process plays a major role in reducing defense systems IW vulnerability. This research identifies the primary IW threats to systems during the acquisition lifecycle and what factors in the acquisition environment contribute to IW vulnerability. This research also suggests a technique for integrating IW countermeasures into the defense systems acquisition process. A primary finding of this research is that while a Program Management Office (PMO) can institute a myriad of useful countermeasures, influencing the prime contractor to establish a secure development environment is the most important action it can take in reducing the vulnerability of future systems to IWApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Major, United States Armyhttp://archive.org/details/usingcquisitionp10945911
Risk assessment and analysis of the M109 family of vehicles Fleet Management Pilot Program
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to conduct a risk assessment and analysis for the M109 l55mm Self Propelled Howitzer (SPH) Fleet Management Pilot Program. The objective of this program is to reengineer the fleet's logistical support system by outsourcing those functions which make sense and that can be performed more efficiently by private industry. This innovative approach places one contractor, or Fleet Manager, in charge of sustaining the entire fleet, The researcher used the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Document for the program as the primary tool to conduct the risk assessment and analysis. Using the CONOPS Document as a preliminary Work Breakdown Structure, the researcher developed two surveys to identify and assess the risks associated with the program. These surveys enabled the researcher to develop a Risk Watchlist that identifies and prioritizes the most severe cost and performance risks. The researcher utilized this watchlist to develop Risk Charts to analyze the potential impact of these risk events. The Risk Charts graphically display both the risk events identified in the program and where they might occur. Developing similar Risk Watchlists and Risk Charts can assist DoD Project Managers in controlling and mitigating the risks associated with their programsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Major, United States Armyhttp://archive.org/details/riskssessmentndn10945892
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
The U.S. arm sales to the Gulf Cooperation Council states
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to discuss existing U.S. arms sales to the Gulf Cooperation Council states (GCC) and to propose an appropriate strategy for future arms trades. The GCC states' existing strategy for acquiring weapon systems has not been sufficient for the defense needs of the six countries. Each country has its own strategy and its main arms source. The reduction of the GCC states' resources due to a gradual reduction in oil price makes it necessary to consolidate their arms acquisition strategy to reach an efficient strategy that serves future defense requirements. U.S. weapon systems were discussed as one solution to obtaining state-of-art weapon systems with lower life cycle cost. U. S. foreign military sales (FMS) is a good tool to facilitate the arms trades between the U.S. and the GCC states. Direct offset was examined for future arms trades that enforce the GCC self-reliance. The U.S. MlA2 tank sales to Saudia Arabia and Kuwait were discussed as a case study to clarify proposals and recommendations. Lastly, recommendations for improving the FMS process were reviewedApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Captain, Bahrain Defense Forcehttp://archive.org/details/theusrmsalestogu10945910
THAAD radar: examination of a cost saving initiative
Get PDFThis thesis analyzes two acquisition reform initiatives that made Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Radar Product Office's Best of Breed Transmit/Receive Module study a success and examines the risk involved in the pursuit of this study. The initiatives are Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV) and commercial items in the form of dual-use technology. Analysis of the radar subsystem of THAAD reveals a major cost driver to be the transmit/receive (T/R) module in the antenna equipment. The Best of Breed study examined techniques in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of these modules and its components in order to aggressively reduce the unit cost. Using tenets of CAIV, THAAD Radar Product Office was able to define a study such that the contractor would recommend a low risk solution to achieve cost reductions of almost 50% for the module. Additionally, the Product Office was able to accomplish this without sacrificing performance or schedule. The commercial application of the T/R module was an important factor in motivating the contractor to seek aggressive cost reductions. Lessons from this case may be applicable to other programs seeking to reduce costApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Major, United States Armyhttp://archive.org/details/thaadradarexamin10945906
Integrated product team implementation and leadership at the program level
Get PDFThis thesis presents exploratory research that investigated how integrated product teams at the program office level are being implemented in response to Department of Defense policy. Research data were gathered by conducting interviews with twenty participants from three teams representing two program offices. Interviewees were queried about their experiences with integrated product teams relative to issues derived from research literature on effective teams: team implementation processes, mission and structure, training, team management, decision making and conflict resolution methods, and implementation challenges and pitfalls. The research, though only a small sample size, revealed that program managers are consistent with what current teaming literature considers to be 'good teaming practices' in the areas of basic team structure and functional area mix, openness and participation in meetings, and the administration of team meetings. The research also identified practices or problems that the research literature suggests limits team success such as the lack of: team consistency and stability, team specific training, team self- assessment and evaluation methods, and the absence of formal feedback mechanisms. Mixed findings were revealed in the areas of empowerment, team self- management, decision making and conflict resolution processes, and support for the teaming concept by senior management.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.NAU.S. Army (USA) authorhttp://archive.org/details/integratedproduc109453201
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Get PDFWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
An analysis of the acquisition and management of automatic test equipment in organic Army depots
Get PDFThe purpose of this thesis is to analyze the effectiveness of management practices, policies and regulations that affect acquisition of Automatic Test Equipment for depot level testing of weapon systems in organic Army depots. The main focus is not to determine whether the policies and regulations are being obeyed, but rather to determine whether in actual practice the most cost effective solutions are being implemented. This requires a close look at the organizations involved, along with their management goals and strategies. The results of this thesis will be documented in the form of lessons learned so that managers involved in depot level ATE selection can read and benefit from past experiences.NANANaval Postgraduate School author.http://archive.org/details/annalysisofcquis109453509
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