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Contains fulltext : 34607.pdf (Author’s version preprint ) (Open Access)

Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) Under support from the Acquisition Research Program and government/industry partnerships, previous research has successfully developed, tested, and implemented a system maturity measure (i.e., a system readiness level [SRL]); supporting optimization models; and an enhanced SRL hierarchy for multi-function, multi-capability (MFMC) systems. The later developments are predicated on what has become the accustomed challenge for managers and engineers to properly assess systems'' development and acquisition to ensure the achievement of critical capabilities and functions while deciding among multiple technologies with similar functionalities but different maturity levels and limited resources. Building on these developments, the proposed research responds to the question: How can we efficiently and effectively allocate available resources to ensure the maturity achievement of critical functions and capabilities in a MFMC system when facing competing technology alternatives? As an answer, we propose the development of multi-objective optimization models and solution approaches that can be used to evaluate systems'' development maturity, to track progress, to identify component criticality, and to form corresponding strategies for understanding trade-offs in technology and integration options. Further, this effort summarizes and document the previous and proposed research in cooperation with industry and government partners to produce a comprehensive guidebook for public distribution on the proper application of this research in methods, processes, and tools (MPT) for defense acquisition. Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program

Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) Most systems now provide multiple functions and multiple capabilities (MFMC) in a single solution. Yet, it has become increasingly challenging for managers to properly assess the development and acquisition of these systems to ensure the achievement of adequate system maturity. Moreover, such a challenge is compounded when the systems are not only comprised of MFMC but have multiple or competing technology and integration alternatives. This challenge then raises a fundamental question: How do we effectively assess the maturity of a system for acquisition when considering technology and integration alternatives or trade-offs in a MFMC system? This paper introduces an approach to begin to address this question and provide results that can be used to evaluate systems development maturity, track progress, and form corresponding strategies for further development and trade-offs in technology and integration alternatives. Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Symposium Presentation (for Acquisition Research Program) Symposium Presentation Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) With support from the Naval Postgraduate School and government/industry partnerships, the Systems Development & Maturity Laboratory (SD&ML) at Stevens Institute of Technology has successfully developed a systems maturity measure (i.e., System Readiness Level [SRL]) and supporting optimization models for inclusion in a Systems Earned Readiness Management methodology. We now believe it is time to spiral back to the beginning of the original developments of the SRL to enhance fundamental capabilities of assessing system maturity in order to address some recurring issues to its application. That is, systems have variants in their physical architecture that realize certain functionality and capability by which trade-off decisions are made to find a satisficing solution for a deployable system. This paper enhances previously developed methodologies by addressing this fundamental question, ''What are the trades-off in functionality, capability, cost, schedule, and maturity that will allow the deployment of a less-than-fully mature system that can still satisfy specific needs of the warfighter?'' To answer this question, we formulate a capability-specific SRL and use multi-dimensional component importance analysis to identify which components of the system should receive the most application of resources when they are constrained. Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The article of record as published may be found at https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2009.2013830 Many U.S. government agencies and their contractors have subscribed to using the prescriptive metric of technology readiness level (TRL) as a measure of maturity of an individual technology, with a view toward operational use in a system context. A comprehensive set of concerns becomes relevant when this metric is abstracted from an individual technology to a system context, which may involve interplay among multiple technologies that are integrated through a system development life cycle. This paper proposes a system-focused approach for managing system development and making effective and efficient decisions during this life cycle. A system readiness level (SRL) index that incorporates both the current TRL scale and the concept of an integration readiness level is presented with methods for determining current and future readiness of a system. Using techniques in evolutionary algorithms, the SRL index is optimized based on resource allocation to provide a decision support approach that enhances managerial capabilities in the system's development life cycle. The optimization model for the SRL is then executed with a case example and resource constraints of 75%, 60%, 45%, 30%, and 15% to demonstrate how it can be used to make strategic planning decisions in the system's development life cycle. Funded by Naval Postgraduate School Naval Postgraduate School (contract # N00244–08-000), Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, and the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center. N00244-08-000

Symposium Presentation (for Acquisition Research Program) Symposium Presentation Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Symposium Presentation (for Acquisition Research Program) Symposium Presentation Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) To address integration, the Systems Development & Maturity Laboratory (SD&ML) at Stevens Institute of Technology introduced another prescriptive metric called Integration Readiness Level (IRL). Combining TRL and IRL scales, SD&ML has formulated a System Readiness Level (SRL). SRL is an aggregate measure that characterizes the progress that has been accomplished by a system under development based on the observable readiness characteristics of the technology and integration elements, not the cost and schedule values. This paper describes the application of SRL to a constrained resource optimization model to determine an optimal development plan that identifies which technologies and integration elements should be matured to which levels such that a specific level of system readiness is achieved by a certain time. This optimal plan can be used to monitor and evaluate the actual progress of the system''it can be the basis of a systems lifecycle maturity management approach called System Earned Readiness Management (SERM). A simple example is used to illustrate SERM. Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) This paper addresses the application of system maturity metrics and decision theory ideologies to a portfolio management framework supporting multi-technology-based system development. The application of previous research performed by the Stevens Institute of Technology in the area of system maturity metrics, including ''systems readiness levels,'' will be leveraged and applied to existing problem sets resulting in a dynamic decision-making process. Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Acquisition research (Graduate School of Business & Public Policy) This paper proposes the use of a new Systems Readiness Level (SRL) scale for managing system development and for making effective and efficient decisions during the defense acquisition process. This scale incorporates both the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the concept of an Integration Readiness Level (IRL) developed by Stevens Institute of Technology. The paper describes the foundations for the SRL and how it is formulated; it also demonstrates the SRL's application within the defense acquisition process using a sample case with notional readiness values. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Proceedings Paper (for Acquisition Research Program) The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale is a measure of maturity of an individual technology, with a view towards operational use in a system context. A comprehensive set of concerns becomes relevant when this metric is abstracted from an individual technology to a system context, which may involve interplay among multiple technologies that are integrated through the defense acquisition process. This paper proposes the development of a system-focused approach for managing system development and making effective and efficient decisions during the defense acquisition process. For this to be accomplished, a new System Readiness Level (SRL) index will incorporate both the current TRL scale and the concept of an integration readiness level (IRL). This paper describes the foundations for the SRL and provides techniques for determining current and future readiness of a system to determine its position in the defense acquisition process. In addition, it proposes optimization models than can provide management with an optimal development plan that can meet the objectives of the development team, based on constrained resources. These, in turn, can become the foundation for the development of a monitoring and evaluation tool that will be analogous to Earned Value Management used in project management. Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Symposium Presentation (for Acquisition Research Program) Symposium Presentation Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.