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Development of an Acquisition Management Course

Jason Wolter, M.S., Roger Burk, Ph.D., Bob Foote, Ph.D., Niki Goerger, Ph.D., Willie McFadden, Ph.D., Timothy E. Trainor, Ph.D. United States Military Academy

Abstract

In response to external feedback and a continual desire to increase the diversity and applicability of the curriculum for our students, the Engineering Management Program at USMA will offer an acquisition systems management course for the first time in Spring 2005. This course will provide graduates with relevant skills related to the acquisition goals of strategically managing, planning, and implementing acquisition programs and reforms. Topics will include acquisition core competencies, such as: theory and principles, systems perspective, project management, technology integration, modeling and simulation. Other topics include knowledge management, organizational behavior, decision making, and risk management. The use of a rigorous systems engineering management process in the development of the course curriculum is necessary to ensure we meet the needs of our students (USMA cadets) and primary constituency, the US Army.

Introduction

The need to transform the Armed Forces to meet the challenges and opportunities of the twenty-first century has never been greater. Current conflicts and operations are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare. In response to these changes the military’s needs have also changed from that of a heavily armored large-scale force to a rapidly deployable, digitally commanded, and fully integrated joint force that combines all services. This new emerging force relies on computer-enhanced systems and the proliferation of advanced technology down to the individual soldier level to gain information dominance on the battlefield. Current conflicts dictate a need for rapid integration of these new technologies into the force structure. This change in force structure and rapid integration also created concerns and questions in our acquisition practices. How do you shorten the acquisition life cycle while still completing the necessary research and adequate testing to produce a reliable interoperable system that increases our warfighting capability and effectiveness? To meet these challenges the Secretary of Defense in 2003 issued planning guidance to the Department of Defense (DoD) intended to transform acquisition business practices to a more “future-oriented capabilities-based resource allocation, accelerated acquisition cycles built on spiral development, out-put based management, and a reformed analytic support agenda.” 1 In response to this new guidance, the DoD community has revised the Defense Acquisition System to establish “a simplified and flexible management framework for translating mission needs and technology opportunities . . . into stable, affordable, and well-managed acquisition programs.” 2 The Defense community also created a new requirements development process called the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS). 3 The JCIDS process has been adopted to better develop systems

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

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Wolter, J. (2005, June), Development Of An Acquisition Managment Course Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14243