Complex Acquisition of IAMD - National Defense Industrial Association

Emerging “1 st Principles” of Successful
Large-Scale Development Programs
• Requirements
– Warfighter involvement institutionalized in acquisition strategy --- from concept thru development
– Transition from operational views to system of systems views --- the first 10% of development is
critical to success --- must involve large scale integrators.
– Set only top level performance specs (KPPs) and use large scale integrator to flow down to
procurement
• Acquisition Strategy
– Program structure & reporting level must reflect priority of development
– Clear responsibility, accountability, authority and resolve charter issues as a team.
– Continuous and open communications to give full insight into program health
– Large scale integrator must account for system requirements & interfaces and define test &
acceptance of elements.
– SOS developments are long and complex, spirals and concurrency are required & funded
• Architectures
– Must drive the acquisition strategy to keep management and business relationships clear.
– Involve thousands of elements and millions of interface requirements
– Use net-centric and service oriented to enhance competitive incentives across system of systems
• Business Models
– Architecture will drive the business models --- supplier management is most critical element
– Government and industry team must have highly competent and proven program & technical
leadership --- growing demographic challenges.
– Integrator award fees must be sufficiently high to attract qualified integration companies
– Large scale integrator business models must transform during acquisition cycle
Integrated capability developments are “game changers” in
government requirements/acquisition and industry cultures
Unclassified
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