Development of an assessment tool to improve systems engineering performance in defense acquisition projects

Abstract

New product development is a generally difficult endeavour but particularly so in the defense sector because of the high stakes, unpredictability and accountability. The acquisition of defense systems is a complex process with numerous challenges and opportunities for improvement. There are major problems of cost overrun and schedule delays, and high failure rates in defense acquisition projects. Systems engineering plays a crucial role in the outcome of defense acquisition projects. Application of effective systems engineering introduces rigor and discipline to the development process and improves the outcome of projects. It is therefore imperative to improve the performance of systems engineering in defense acquisition projects. Additionally, the increasing complexity of warfighting capabilities necessitates more effective systems engineering in the program lifecycle. Therefore, the study aimed at developing an assessment tool to improve the performance of systems engineering during execution of weapon systems development projects. The study was underpinned in the interpretivist research paradigm, and the data collection techniques used were case studies and document analysis. A case study research was conducted on three systems engineering projects of the Department of Defense. The case studies were analysed, and the results of the analysis were then used to design and develop an assessment tool. The assessment tool was developed based on the case study findings analysis. The developed assessment tool was evaluated using Subject Matter Expert reviews. The developed assessment tool and framework can be implemented during execution of weapon systems development projects. This research study made both practical and theoretical contributions. Practically, it developed an assessment tool that can be implemented during execution of weapon systems projects to improve performance of systems engineering in weapon systems development projects. Theoretically, it contributed to the body of knowledge by identifying real-world challenges of systems engineering application in weapons systems development projects and proposing practical solutions. Future research should focus on improving the developed assessment tool to fit different weapon system types and organisations.