Using Knowledge Value Added (KVA) for evaluating cryptologic it capabilities trial implementation

Abstract

Program managers throughout the DoD are faced with technology portfolio management problems. Critical to these efforts is the need to track the performance of the technology on a routine, ongoing basis. This thesis focuses on solving this general problem in the specific context of the United States Navy's Cryptologic Carry-On Program (CCOP). This study provides a demonstration of how a software suite that monitors process performance can be implemented to provide ongoing return on investment information about CCOP technology. This follow-on research and trial implementation demonstrate how the Knowledge Value Added (KVA) Methodology that is embedded in the performance monitoring software is used to formulate a framework for extracting and analyzing performance parameters and measures of effectiveness for each CCOP system. KVA was used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of CCOP systems and the impact they have on the Intelligence Collection Process (ICP) onboard the USS GONZALES. The analysis of the subprocess outputs involved in the ICP in common units of change, a price per unit of output is generated to allocate both cost and revenue at the subprocess level. With this level of financial detail, a return on investment (ROI) analysis can be conducted for each process.