Risk quantification of systems engineering documents improves probability of DOD program success

• Main Author: Irwin, Thomas C.
• Other Authors: Owen, Walter
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/4564

Approved for public release, distribution unlimited === A frame transition problem exists between project Systems Engineers (SE) and Department of Defense (DoD) Program Managers (PM). Systems engineering organizations, operating in a rational frame, must produce systems engineering documents required for the PM operating in a political frame of constrained resources. These artifacts, required for milestone reviews, are the results of extensive technical effort that must be accounted for and adequately resourced during project planning by the PM. Programs cannot progress through the DoD acquisition framework if these statutory and regulatory documents are not completed on time and of acceptable technical quality, which is determined during a complicated multi-organization review process. By providing the PM and DoD decision makers with a quantified risk assessment methodology during project planning, these key artifacts can be included in initial program risk assessment activities. This thesis provides the methodology for developing a comprehensive risk model for DoD milestone documentation as well as recommended changes to the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) Project Planning and Risk Management process areas. The intent is to use risk as the common ground between the DoD PM and SE so that each can operate within their respective environments with a common and consistent understanding of risk.