Improving trade visibility and fidelity in defense requirements portfolio management

Abstract

In 2003, the Department of Defense (DoD) requirements process migrated from a bottom-up, threat-based force-planning method to a capability-based, top-down approach with the introduction of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS). The primary objective of the JCIDS process is to ensure the capabilities required by the joint warfighter are identified, assessed, validated, and prioritized in a transparent process that allows for a balanced and informed decision. Although JCIDS continues to evolve, criticisms remain: solution development and delivery are not timely; the process is complex; and it lacks mechanisms to focus the review across portfolios; to name a few. It is imperative to address these fundamental issues as the DoD is now forced to operate within a severely constrained fiscal environment - the DoD must gain better insight and visibility across its defense requirements portfolio. This thesis seeks to address these issues through the application of Systems Engineering techniques, specifically an Enterprise Strategic Analysis and Semantic Architecture review, to the JCIDS process. The Enterprise Strategic Analysis reveals the critical stakeholder interactions as well as nuances of the landscape in which JCIDS functions. This is followed by a detailed Semantic Architecture review of sample documents within the JCIDS process to inform a knowledge base. The result of these steps is a formative ontology which reveals basic relationships and patterns with the ability to assist decision makers manage the complexity inherent in the management of joint capabilities.