Evolutionary/Incremental Acquisition

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to answer a Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Acquisition Research Program's sponsored thesis primary research question: How difficult is it to develop a successful incremental acquisition approach for defense acquisition programs (Acquisition Research Program, n.d.)? The research uses the Department of Defense's (DOD's) Joint Common Missile (JCM) program and the subsequent Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program as the basis for surveying acquisition professionals. This research prepares a preliminary survey to assess capabilities of future surveys and analysis of higher level acquisition scheduling and program planning. The preliminary survey created for this thesis helps to enable future research on survey and questionnaire methods in the acquisition academic environment. Feedback on the preliminary survey from acquisition subject matter experts helps to revise the survey as needed to finalize a detailed and effective survey for future use. Results of the preliminary survey will help the DOD acquisition community in developing future questionnaires and training programs for acquisition professionals.