Statistics, Testing, and Defense Acquisition: New Approaches and Methodological Improvements - Softcover

National Research Council; Division Of Behavioral And Social Sciences And Education; Commission On Behavioral And Social Sciences And Education; Committee On National Statistics; Panel On Statistical Methods For Testing And Evaluating Defense Systems

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309065518 ISBN 13: 9780309065511

Publisher: National Academies Press, 1998

Synopsis

For every weapons system being developed, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) must make a critical decision: Should the system go forward to full-scale production? The answer to that question may involve not only tens of billions of dollars but also the nation's security and military capabilities. In the milestone process used by DOD to answer the basic acquisition question, one component near the end of the process is operational testing, to determine if a system meets the requirements for effectiveness and suitability in realistic battlefield settings. Problems discovered at this stage can cause significant production delays and can necessitate costly system redesign.

This book examines the milestone process, as well as the DOD's entire approach to testing and evaluating defense systems. It brings to the topic of defense acquisition the application of scientific statistical principles and practices.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Operational Testing and System Acquisition
• 3 A New Paradigm for Testing and Evaluation in Defense Acquisition
• 4 Upgrading Statistical Methods for Testing and Evaluation
• 5 Improving Operational Test Planning and Design
• 6 Analyzing and Reporting Test Results
• 7 Assessing Operational Suitability
• 8 Testing Software-Intensive Systems
• 9 Using Modeling and Simulation in Test Design and Evaluation
• 10 Increasing Access to Statistical Expertise for Operational Testing
• Appendix A Case Studies and System Descriptions
• Appendix B Abstracts of Background Papers
• Appendix C A Potential Taxonomy for Operational Tests
• Appendix D Elements of ISO 9000
• Appendix E Glossary and Acronyms
• References
• Biographical Sketches of Panel Members and Staff

About this title

About the Author:

Michael L. Cohen, John E. Rolph, and Duane L. Steffey, Editors; Panel on Statistical Methods for Testing and Evaluating Defense Systems, Committee on National Statistics, National Research Council

About this edition

• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0309065518
• ISBN 13: 9780309065511
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240
• Editor: Steffey Duane L., Rolph John E., Cohen Michael L.