Acquisition Research: The Foundation for Innovation

Abstract

A close tie exists between defense acquisition practice and acquisition training. Acquisition practice entails exercising skills and techniques in project management, contracting, logistics, test and evaluation, and other functional areas, while acquisition training imparts those skills and techniques. Thus, training teaches the good practice of acquisition. Quite different sorts of connections exist between acquisition research and acquisition practice. To be sure, research may support and inform practice, for example, with studies of how existing practices may be improved. On the other hand, research may also challenge the status quo with investigations into questions such as whether current practices are adequate and whether some techniques should be jettisoned in favor of new skills. Research also transcends practice in at least two ways. First, to the extent that it touches acquisition policy, research informs development of the rules, regulations, statutes, and procedures that govern practice. Second, and in our view more importantly, research may reshape our basic understanding of the definition of acquisition itself.