Delivering Savings with Open Architecture and Product Lines

Abstract

The unpredictable nature of the 21st century national security environment in conjunction with severe downward budgetary pressures has placed a new emphasis on achieving mission success with fewer resources. As the Department of Defense has sought to transform itself to meet this new requirement, Open Architecture (OA) has been viewed as one innovative tool for reducing costs (through greater efficiencies, enhanced competition, lower life-cycle cost, etc.) while maintaining the ability to quickly respond to the ever-changing threat environment. Consistent with this approach, product lines, based on OA foundational principles, have recently emerged as a means to streamline systems, achieve greater levels of reuse, and reduce costs. As directed by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition, ASN[RDA]), the Naval Enterprise is preparing to implement Open Architecture Pilot Projects to validate a range of implementation approaches and evaluate their technical and business advantages as a means to attack budget and output deficiencies. This research topic will provide recommendations on how best to start implementing the product line approach in programs across the Naval Enterprise, consistent with current OA policy.