AcqNote Description Area
Fidelity is the accuracy of the model or simulation when compared to the real world. Simulation fidelity has to do with how well the simulation responds and how the results correspond to what the simulation is trying to represent. Fidelity is important because it is what distinguishes models and simulations from other computer programs because […]
The DoD VV&A Documentation Tool (DVDT) addresses the need to capture Verification, Validation & Accreditation (VV&A) information in a consistent form with consistent content. The DVDT supports the various DoD- and Service-level Communities by producing standardized VV&A documentation and meeting net-centric architecture requirements for sharing, discovering, and retrieving VV&A information within the Global Information Grid
The Modeling and Simulation Coordination Office (M&S CO) is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization that helps with the development, coordination, technical guidance, and standardization of Modeling and Simulation activities. It also ensures that modeling and simulation technology is consistent with other related DoD initiatives and provides administrative and technical support to the DoD M&S
The DoD Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Catalog is a web-based search capability that provides a “card catalog” level of detail about M&S tools, data and services available to its users. It’s designed to guide a user quickly to a manageable set of alternatives to evaluate. The tool has the capability to perform analysis of
A Distributed Product Description (DPD) is a distributed collection of product-centric information that is interconnected via web technology into what appears (to the user) to be a single, combined, logically unified product representation. A DPD is a: [1] Distributed collection of digital product information A view of current product state to all program participants throughout
Modeling & Simulation (M&S) requirements specify the set of capabilities that a simulation needs in order to adequately serve all of its intended uses. Users rely on information from the three domains (Problem, User and Simulation) to develop a concise and consistent set of requirements for the simulation at hand. Users use this set of
The use of Modeling and Simulation (M&S) in Test and Evaluation (T&E) provides test data to support system concept exploration. It provides valuable information that can increase confidence levels, decrease field test time and costs, and provide data for pre-test prediction and post-test validation. M&S in T&E can be divided into three (3) categories:
A simulation of a system is the operation of a model of the system; “Simulation Model”. The steps involved in developing a simulation model, designing a simulation experiment, and performing simulation analysis are: [1] Step 1. Identify the Problem: Enumerate problems with an existing system. Produce requirements for a proposed system. Step 2. Formulate the
‘What if’ scenario analysis is a simulation method that compares and measures the effects of different scenarios on a project schedule. It uses Schedule Network Analysis to determine the effects of various scenarios on a project schedule from delayed activities, strikes, bad weather, late resources, and other adverse situations. This analysis is used to plan
This DoD Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Body of Knowledge (BOK) was published in June 2008. The BOK provides standardized language and associated knowledge base for users, developers, managers and executive-level personnel to effectively apply M&S to DoD requirements. The awareness and application usage levels contained in this BOK are displayed by the services (Army,
The To Complete Performance Index (TCPI) is a comparative Earn Value Management (EVM) metric used primarily to determine if an independent estimate at completion is reasonable. It computes the future required cost efficiency needed to achieve a target Estimate at Completion (EAC). TCPI Definition: It is a measure of the cost performance that is required
Schedule risk is the likelihood of failing to meet schedule plans and the effect of that failure. It exists in every schedule and is impossible to predict, with complete confidence, the length of time necessary to complete an activity, meet a milestone, or deliver a system. Little information exists in the early phases of a
A Schedule Network Analysis is a graphical representation of a schedule showing each sequenced activity and the time it takes to finish each one. It’s used to identify early and late start dates, as well as early and late finish dates, for the uncompleted portions of project schedule activities. This analysis also helps determine the
Step 4: Schedule Development involves the development of realistic start and finish dates for each activity. An iterative process, schedule development takes into account activity sequencing, duration estimates, resource requirements and availability, calendars that show when work can be performed, constraints, assumptions, and risk. [1] The output of this step is a set of schedules
Schedule compression, also known as time compression or schedule crashing, is a technique used in project management to shorten an already-developed schedule. This might be done to meet an updated delivery date, a new opportunity, or a schedule delay. It’s done without changing the scope of the program. Definition: Schedule compression is a project management
Step 5: Schedule Control in the Schedule Preparation process is to identify schedule variations and to manage actual changes to the developed schedules. (see Controlling Process) A schedule change control system that defines the procedures by which changes can be made should be established and integrated into the program’s overall change control system. The schedule
Resource leveling is a scheduling technique that addresses the availability of resources, usually manpower and equipment. Project personnel will modify scheduled activities to accommodate resource availability or unavailability. If resources are available only in limited quantities, they will change the timing of activities so that the most critical activities have enough resources to be completed,
Network Diagrams are a graphical portrayal of the activities and events of a project. They show how each activity relates to others in the project, the sequence of activities, and the need to perform some tasks before others. Networks also facilitate the determination of the impact of early or late starts or finishes, provide information about
Precedence Diagram Method (PDM) is a visual representation technique that depicts the activities involved in a project. It is a method of constructing a project schedule network diagram that uses boxes/nodes to represent activities and connects them with arrows that show the dependencies. It’s also sometimes called the activity-on-node (AON) method. Purpose of Precedence Diagram
A Milestone Chart focuses on planned significant events scheduled to occur at specific times in the program. Such events could be the initiation or completion of a particularly important or critical activity, equipment deliveries, reviews, or approval dates. Like the Gantt Chart, the milestone chart uses symbols imposed on a calendar to provide information about
The Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is a time-based schedule containing the networked, detailed tasks necessary to ensure successful program/contract execution. The IMS is traceable to the Integrated Master Plan (IMP), Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Statement of Work (SOW), Contractor Performance Report (CPR), and Earn Value Management system (EVMS). Definition: The Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is
Microsoft Project is a schedule development program by Microsoft that allows program personnel to effectively manage their project. It graphically puts together a schedule that can be utilized by project personnel and easily collaborated with. It can also be used to determine the Critical Path, PERT Analysis, and help with earn value analysis. The
Line of Balance (LOB) is a management control process for collecting, measuring, and presenting facts relating to time (see Schedule Control), cost, and accomplishment – all measured against a specific plan. It shows the process, status, background, timing, and phasing of the project activities, thus providing management with measuring tools that help: Comparing actual progress
A Gantt chart is a schedule that shows the start/stop dates of a program’s individual activities. It uses symbols superimposed on a calendar to provide information about the original plan, the status of the activity, and any forecasted changes to the plan. There is no standard set of Gantt chart symbols. The schedule is displayed
The Critical Chain Method (CCM) is used to perform Schedule Network Analysis that considers task dependencies, limited resource availability, and buffers. It’s used to prepare the project schedule when limited or restricted resources are available. In this method, the Program Manager (PM) usually schedules all or most high-risk or critical activities in the earlier stage of
