DEFM_410_WK_6_Discussion
Program outcomes refer to what the program is
intended to produce. For defense acquisition programs,
the program outcome is the product of the acquisition
that is designed to fill a capability gap. What can be
difficult about defense programs is measuring the
outcome. Many defense programs are built with the
intent to deter or are designed for worst- case scenarios,
so measuring the outcome can be a little difficult. Even
so, defense programs can be measured by certain
performance criteria of the program, such as cost,
schedule, and performance over time. In addition,
defense programs can be measured by effectiveness
and suitability.
No matter how the program outcomes are measured,
the one constant is that the measures need to be well
defined and easily understood. It helps if the measures
are quantitative in nature there is no reason not to use
qualitative measures.
With defense programs, the end-users are the military
members, and their subjective inputs can be important
to future program success.
The GAO recognizes that in order to determine the
health of a program, certain prerequisites are necessary.
One of the most important prerequisites is the use of
systems engineering early in the acquisition process.
This can be accomplished through the use of a systems
engineering plan that is the communication piece for
the program managers that allow them to take an
overall system engineering approach to the program. A
systems engineering plan identifies resources, risks,
metrics, design consideration, and schedule of activities.
Systems engineering allows for the processes of a
program to be evaluated throughout the lifecycle of the
acquisition and creates entrance criteria for
continuation.
Program outcomes refer to what the program is
intended to produce. For defense acquisition programs,
the program outcome is the product of the acquisition
that is designed to fill a capability gap. What can be
difficult about defense programs is measuring the
outcome. Many defense programs are built with the
intent to deter or are designed for worst- case scenarios,
so measuring the outcome can be a little difficult. Even
so, defense programs can be measured by certain
performance criteria of the program, such as cost,
schedule, and performance over time. In addition,
defense programs can be measured by effectiveness
and suitability.
No matter how the program outcomes are measured,
the one constant is that the measures need to be well
defined and easily understood. It helps if the measures
are quantitative in nature there is no reason not to use
qualitative measures.
With defense programs, the end-users are the military
members, and their subjective inputs can be important
to future program success.
The GAO recognizes that in order to determine the
health of a program, certain prerequisites are necessary.
One of the most important prerequisites is the use of
systems engineering early in the acquisition process.
This can be accomplished through the use of a systems
engineering plan that is the communication piece for
the program managers that allow them to take an
overall system engineering approach to the program. A
systems engineering plan identifies resources, risks,
metrics, design consideration, and schedule of activities.
Systems engineering allows for the processes of a
program to be evaluated throughout the lifecycle of the
acquisition and creates entrance criteria for
continuation.
