Read Books Online and Download eBooks, EPub, PDF, Mobi, Kindle, Text Full Free.
The Accuracy Of Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates As A Function Of Time
Download The Accuracy Of Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates As A Function Of Time full books in PDF, epub, and Kindle. Read online The Accuracy Of Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates As A Function Of Time ebook anywhere anytime directly on your device. Fast Download speed and no annoying ads. We cannot guarantee that every ebooks is available!
Book Synopsis The Accuracy of Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates as a Function of Time by : Hugh S McLeod (III.)
Download or read book The Accuracy of Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates as a Function of Time written by Hugh S McLeod (III.) and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Repeated experiences with unrealistic system acquisition cost estimates made by defense contractors and the Department of Defense have seriously undermined the willingness of Congress and the general public to fully support current and new acquisition programs. To facilitate regaining this support for defense programs, improvement in the accuracy of acquisition cost estimates is needed. In attempting to identify the factors that influence the accuracy of these cost estimates, this study is focused on the relationships between the accuracy of activity-cost estimates and three factors--the estimate's distance from the activity start date, the project start date, and the magnitude of the activity cost. Four accuracy measures were used: the magnitude and direction of the estimate error expressed as a percentage of the activity-cost, the absolute value of this error, the magnitude and direction of the estimate error expressed as a dollar value, and the absolute value of this error. The data base consisted of 282 cost estimates for eighty nine activities. A strong relationship was found between accuracy and the magnitude of activity cost. Weaker relationships were found between accuracy and the estimate's distance from both the activity start date and the project start date. (Author).
Book Synopsis Network Managed Air Force Projects: The Accuracy of Estimates as a Function of Time by : James H. Lowry
Download or read book Network Managed Air Force Projects: The Accuracy of Estimates as a Function of Time written by James H. Lowry and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent congressional criticism has emphasized the need for accurate predictions of cost and schedule requirements for developing Air Force weapon systems. Meanwhile, network analysis has been credited with allowing the development of complex weapon systems in the minimum time and at the minimum cost. The study is focused on the relationships between the accuracy of activity-time estimates and three factors--the estimate's distance from the activity start date, activity duration, and the estimate's distance from the project start date. Multiple regression was used to estimate the relationships among the variables. Methods of improving estimating accuracy in network-managed projects are recommended.
Book Synopsis Historical Cost Growth of Completed Weapon System Programs by : Mark V. Arena
Download or read book Historical Cost Growth of Completed Weapon System Programs written by Mark V. Arena and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2006 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is one of a series from a RAND Project AIR FORCE project, "The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives." The purpose of the project is to improve the tools used to estimate the costs of future weapon systems. It focuses on how recent technical, management, and government policy changes affect cost. This report focuses on the accuracy of cost estimates. For our analysis, we used a very specific sample of Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) data, namely only programs that are complete or are nearly so. The analysis indicates a systematic bias toward underestimating the costs and substantial uncertainty in estimating the final cost of a weapon system. In contrast to the previous literature, the cost growth was higher than previously observed. We also found few correlations with cost growth, but observed that programs with longer duration had greater cost growth and electronics programs tended to have lower cost growth. Although there were some differences in the mean cost growth factors among the military departments, the differences were not statistically significant. While newer programs appear to have lower cost growth, this trend appears to be due to factors other than acquisition policies.
Book Synopsis Is Weapon System Cost Growth Increasing? by : Obaid Younossi
Download or read book Is Weapon System Cost Growth Increasing? written by Obaid Younossi and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2007 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In recent decades, there have been numerous attempts to rein in the cost growth of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs. Cost growth is the ratio of the cost estimate reported in a program's final Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) and the cost-estimate baseline reported in a prior SAR issued at a particular milestone. Drawing on prior RAND research, new analyses of completed and ongoing weapon system programs, and data drawn from SARs, this study addresses the following questions: What is the cost growth of DoD weapon systems? What has been the trend of cost growth over the past three decades? To address the magnitude of cost growth, it examines cost growth in completed programs; to evaluate the cost growth trend over time, it provides additional analysis of a selection of ongoing programs. This sample of ongoing programs permits a look at growth trends in the more recent past. Changes in the mix of system types over time and dollar-weighted analysis were also considered because earlier studies have suggested that cost growth varies by program type and the cost of the program. The findings suggest that development cost growth over the past three decades has remained high and without any significant improvement.
Book Synopsis The Air Force Cost Estimating Process: The Agencies Involved and Estimating Techniques Used by : Edwin M. Lewis
Download or read book The Air Force Cost Estimating Process: The Agencies Involved and Estimating Techniques Used written by Edwin M. Lewis and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense is faced with the task of acquiring new weapon systems. These acquisitions have been characterized by a history of cost growth, while disparities exist among the cost estimates that are made by different organizations. The AF Business Research Management Center believes that few individuals have an overall, detailed perception of how the various cost estimates interrelate and this belief was substantiated by the research. An extensive literature review was accomplished. A model of the Cost Estimating Process as it appears in published sources was developed, including specific estimating techniques used. Four factors were identified which need attention if the accuracy of estimates is to be improved: (1) a standardized definition of 'accuracy'; (2) a feedback system tailored to the individual estimator; (3) a compendium of cost estimating techniques; (4) a standardized data base identifying the estimator, project, techniques used, and time frame of the cost estimate.
Book Synopsis NASA SP-7500 by : United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Download or read book NASA SP-7500 written by United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Foreign Military Sales Weapon System Cost Estimation Procedure: A Case Study of the F-4 Fighter/Attack Aircraft by : Charles Flowers
Download or read book Foreign Military Sales Weapon System Cost Estimation Procedure: A Case Study of the F-4 Fighter/Attack Aircraft written by Charles Flowers and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost estimation of USAF major weapon system package sales should be as accurate as possible to assure relationships with foreign customers are not strained. This thesis examines the cost estimation procedure of the F/RF-4 Systems Program Office, Financial Directorate, used to prepare a price and availability (P and A) estimate for Foreign Military Sales (FMS) requests. The study provides an analysis of the coordination process involved in an F/RF-4 P and A request, beginning with the foreign country and concluding with the Aeronautical System Division of the Air Force Systems Command. A detailed analysis of the data base for the computer algorithm used by the Financial Directorate is provided. The algorithm assures that real-time component costs are included in the P and A estimate. Conclusions from this research indicate that the data base allows continuous updating of cost components. It also enables instant modification of cost estimates in response to country inquiries arising from changes which occur during formal price negotiations. (Author).
Book Synopsis Sources of Weapon System Cost Growth by : Joseph George Bolten
Download or read book Sources of Weapon System Cost Growth written by Joseph George Bolten and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2008 with total page 117 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Previous studies have shown that the Department of Defense (DoD) and the military departments have historically underestimated the cost of new weapon systems. Quantifying cost growth is important, but the larger issue is why cost growth occurs. To address that issue, this analysis uses data from Selected Acquisition Reports to examine 35 mature, but not necessarily complete, major defense acquisition programs similar to the type and complexity of those typically managed by the Air Force. The programs are first examined as a complete set, then Air Force and non-Air Force programs are analyzed separately to determine whether the causes of cost growth in the two groups differ. Four major sources of cost growth were identified: (1) errors in estimation and scheduling, (2) decisions made by the government, (3) financial matters, and (4) miscellaneous sources. Total (development plus procurement) cost growth, when measured as simple averages among the program set, is dominated by decisions, which account for more than two-thirds of the growth. Most decisions-related cost growth involves quantity changes (22 percent), requirements growth (13 percent), and schedule changes (9 percent). Cost estimation (10 percent) is the only large contributor in the errors category. Less than 4 percent of the overall cost growth is due to financial and miscellaneous causes. Because decisions involving changes in requirements, quantities, and production schedules dominate cost growth, program managers, service leadership, and Congress should look for ways to reduce changes in these areas.
Book Synopsis Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports by :
Download or read book Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports written by and published by . This book was released on 1987 with total page 938 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Historical Cost Growth of Completed Weapon System Programs by :
Download or read book Historical Cost Growth of Completed Weapon System Programs written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report is one of a series from a RAND Project AIR FORCE project, "The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives." The report complements another document from this project, "Impossible Certainty: Cost Risk Analysis for Air Force Systems," and includes a literature review of cost growth studies and a more extensive analysis of the historical cost growth in acquisition programs than appears in the companion report. Overall, most of the studies reviewed reported that actual costs were greater than estimates of baseline costs. The most common metric used to measure cost growth is the cost growth factor (CGF), which is defined as the ratio of the actual cost to the estimated costs. A CGF of less than 1.0 indicates that the estimate was higher than the actual cost -- an underrun. When the CGF exceeds 1.0, the actual costs were higher than the estimate -- an overrun. Studies of weapon system cost growth have mainly relied on data from Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs). These reports are prepared annually by all major defense acquisition program (MDAP) offices within the military services to provide the U.S. Congress with cost, schedule, and performance status. The comparison baseline (estimate) typically corresponds to a major acquisition decision milestone. Prior studies have reported Milestone (MS) II CGFs for development costs ranging from 1.16 to 2.26; estimates of procurement CGFs ranging from 1.16 to 1.65; and total program CGFs ranging from 1.20 to 1.54. Regarding the differences among cost growth due to service, weapon, and time period, prior studies tended to find the following: Army weapon systems had higher cost growth than did weapon systems for the Air Force or Navy; cost growth differs by equipment type; and cost growth has declined from the 1960s and 1970s, after it was recognized as an important problem.
Book Synopsis An Analysis of Weapon System Cost Growth by :
Download or read book An Analysis of Weapon System Cost Growth written by and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cost growth in weapon system development, one result of the inherent risk of developing advanced systems, has been a prevalent problem for many years. A systematic bias in cost estimates can undermine the basis of resource allocation decisions, an important problem in a tight budget environment. Currently DoD is in this situation. This exploratory research attempts to gain new insight into this old acquisition issue. In particular, our objectives were to quantify the magnitude of cost growth in weapon systems, and identify factors affecting cost growth. A better understanding of the scope of the cost growth problem would provide decisionmakers with an improved basis for mitigating cost growth. Insight into the drivers of cost growth might suggest policy alternatives appropriate to the goal of mitigating cost growth. This research uses a database composed of 197 major weapon systems reporting through the Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) process as of December 1990 to address these issues. While we have quantified the magnitude of weapon system cost growth along a number of dimensions, we could not definitively account for the observed cost growth patterns. Thus, no silver bullet policy option is available for mitigating cost growth.
Book Synopsis Life Cycle Cost Estimating--its Status and Potential Use in Major Weapon System Acquisitions, Department of Defense by : United States. General Accounting Office
Download or read book Life Cycle Cost Estimating--its Status and Potential Use in Major Weapon System Acquisitions, Department of Defense written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1974 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis A Methodology for Estimating Jet Engine Costs Early in Weapon System Acquisition by : Michael A. Yanke
Download or read book A Methodology for Estimating Jet Engine Costs Early in Weapon System Acquisition written by Michael A. Yanke and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DOD) is deeply conerned about developing accurate initial estimates for weapon system production costs. An area of particular interest is providing estimates of future production costs for jet engines. Current parametric models used by the Air Force identify engine cost as a function of output variables. Other DOD agencies consider relating input variables as well as output variables to production costs. This study was designed to find a better way to estimate engine production costs. The results of this research include the following findings: (1) current Air Force cost-estimating models are operationally ineffective; (2) raw materials-related variables are highly correlated with cost and should be considered in developing future cost-estimation models; (3) statistical validation of cost models should incorporate confidence interval testing at a specfied alpha level for each prediction; and (4) the use of confidence intervals is the correct statistical approach for developing cost estimates which may be used in decision making. (Author).
Book Synopsis DOD Needs to Provide More Credible Weapon Systems Cost Estimates to the Congress by : United States. General Accounting Office
Download or read book DOD Needs to Provide More Credible Weapon Systems Cost Estimates to the Congress written by United States. General Accounting Office and published by . This book was released on 1984 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Management, a Continuing Literature Survey with Indexes by :
Download or read book Management, a Continuing Literature Survey with Indexes written by and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 502 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Systems Engineering and Program Management by : David E. Stem
Download or read book Systems Engineering and Program Management written by David E. Stem and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2006 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Systems engineering and program management (SE/PM) constitute a large portion of the acquisition cost of military aircraft and guided weapons systems. The goal of this study was the development of a set of cost-estimating relationships that can be used to estimate the SE/PM cost element for development and production of aircraft and weapons programs. The authors canvassed government and industry personnel to learn about current techniques for estimating SE/PM costs, and they collected historical data from several aircraft and weapons programs to investigate trends in SE/PM costs over time and to generate methods that cost analysts can use early in the life cycle of a program when little cost information is available. The authors also investigated the effects on SE/PM costs from acquisition reform, including the reduction in the number of military specifications and standards, the use of integrated product and process teams, and the trend toward "evolutionary acquisition." This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND monographs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Book jacket.
Book Synopsis Annual Department of Defense Bibliography of Logistics Studies and Related Documents by : United States. Defense Logistics Studies Information Exchange
Download or read book Annual Department of Defense Bibliography of Logistics Studies and Related Documents written by United States. Defense Logistics Studies Information Exchange and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
