Stop Chasing the Perfect Requirement Specification: Formalizing Conceptual Model Documentation in Simulation Acquisition

Abstract

Across the U.S. military, modeling and simulation capabilities are increasingly sought to support analysis, experimentation, and training for the employment of complex capabilities in multi-domain operations. Many of the associated simulation acquisition efforts result in failure, despite extensive expenditures of manpower and funds. Efforts to avoid these outcomes have included rigorous specification of requirements and attempts to implement the Software Acquisition Pathway, with limited success. This paper highlights challenges associated with military simulation acquisition and recommends a new approach grounded in an understanding of simulation design and development best practices. To ensure a simulation’s requirements and operating context are adequately understood, the simulation designer must provide the requirements owner, and other stakeholders, explicit documentation of the simulation conceptual model. Once the simulation conceptual model has been validated by the requirements owners, it serves as a blueprint for acquisitions partners in the development of the simulation. In addition to providing a clear guide for the development of the simulation, this process will also ensure the delivery of conceptual model documentation which is critical for supporting simulation verification and validation, use, and maintenance. With the Department of War undergoing a massive reevaluation of the acquisitions process, now is the time to revise the acquisition process for simulation design and development.