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My name is LTC Dan Ward and I serve in the US Air Force. In 2004, I coined the term FIST (Fast, Inexpensive, Simple, Tiny) to describe a particular pattern of decision making that supports rapid, low-cost innovation. Since that time, I have published extensively on the topic. Below is a list of
Lessons learned are a tool that Program Managers (PM) and program personnel can use to help identify potential areas of risk associated with the system by reviewing the experiences encountered in past programs. Lessons learned databases document what worked and what did not work in past programs, in the hopes that future programs can
Tutorials Training Organizations Defense Acquisition University (DAU): The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) provides acquisition training to members of the Department of Defense and Aerospace community. Their mission is to provide a learning environment to support the Defense Acquisition Workforce to develop, deliver, and sustain effective and affordable military capability. It does this
Best Practice Definition: A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark. Below is a collection of Best Practices that are useful to the DoD Acquisition community in achieving superior results and preventing the mistakes of the past. Program Management
The System Functional Review (SFR) is a technical review to ensure that the system’s functional baseline is established and can satisfy the requirements of the Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) or draft Capability Development Document (CDD) within the currently allocated budget and schedule. It also determines whether the system’s lower-level performance requirements are fully defined and
An Impoundment Resolution is whenever all or part of any Budget Authority (BA) provided by the Congress is deferred, the President must transmit a message to the Congress describing the deferrals. Either house of Congress may, at any time, pass a resolution disapproving this deferral of BA, thus requiring that the funds be made available
A Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) (Title 10 U.S.C. § 2366b) is a formal, metrics-based process and accompanying report that assesses the maturity of critical hardware and software technologies called Critical Technology Elements (CTE) to be used in systems. It is conducted by an Independent Review Team (IRT) of subject matter experts (SMEs). All DoD acquisition
The Analysis of Alternative (AoA) Study Guidance is developed and approved by the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE) with the input of other DoD officials. Prior to the Materiel Development Decision (MDD) review, the DCAPE provides the AoA study guide to the DoD Component designated by the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA). Following
The Joint Staff (JS) Deputy Director for Requirements (J-8) serves as the JCIDS Gatekeeper for the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) Process and maintains a studies repository to facilitate visibility into studies related to capability requirements and the generation of JCIDS documents. Sponsors provide the results of any studies or analyses intended to
