Strategies for Competition Beyond Open Architecture (OA): Acquisition at the Edge of Chaos
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Authors
Srivastava, Niraj
Rice, Michael
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2014-04-30
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Department of Defense (DoD) Open Systems Architecture (OSA) policies are supposed to enhance acquisition reform to ensure competition for better pricing as dictated by the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009. However, the competition for better pricing using OSA does not necessarily drive innovation that addresses increasing system complexity. In the face of increasing system complexity, uncertain security profiles, and a challenging budget environment, the defense acquisition process and system engineering efforts need to work in concert to produce defense systems that reduce time to deployment and are more adaptable. We look to complex adaptive systems (CAS) and evolutionary theory for strategies for competition using methods from dynamical systems and population genetics. The key insight of evolutionary theory is that many behaviors involve the interaction of multiple entities in a population, and the success of any one of these entities depends on how its behavior interacts with that of others. Furthermore, we investigate the potential for bidirectional coupling between population density (market size) and the evolution of an emergent trait such as competition. We propose the Component Competition Readiness Level (CCRL) metrics that define and measure competition readiness to promote agility into the complex dynamics of the acquisition processes.
Type
Report
Description
Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Acquisition Research Symposium, Wednesday Sessions, Volume I
Series/Report No
Acquisition Research Symposium
Department
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS-AM-14-C11P06R03-035
Sponsors
Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.