Risk Factors versus Dollar Value: Changing How Weapon System Programs are Managed

Abstract

The author discusses the current basis of the DoD's management and oversight of MDAPs (i.e., their dollar value) and proposes a new paradigm in which the level of management and oversight would be based on the level of risk an MDAP represents. The author also examines the extent to which the DoD is prepared to assess the following categories of risk: technical, system integration, design, production, and business. Finally, the author makes recommendations to improve the DoD's ability to assess these risks.