Posted by The System Capability Architecture: Enabling Capability-Based Cost Analysis
Methods Track
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Abstract:
The current Department of Defense (DoD) cost environment requires early investment decisions. In order to improve acquisition outcomes, these early decisions require cost analysis at a time when limited program information is available. The limited program information can sometimes be just a list of desired capabilities.
This work submits that the Capabilities Knowledge Base (CKB) can be used to maximize this limited data, providing quick estimates which can be refined once additional information is available. The CKB was designed by the Early Cost Team at the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Cost and Economics (ODASA- CE). The CKB maps capabilities to costs for current systems and allows an analyst to determine future cost by examining proposed capabilities.
The Systems Capabilities Architecture (SCA) is used to assign capabilities to systems. The SCA is comprised of thirteen capabilities from (1.0) Maneuver to (13.0) Manage Data. Since the SCA capabilities are Boolean expressions, capability assignment simply requires an analyst to decide whether or not a particular capability is relevant to the system at hand. The SCA architecture is specific, distinguishable, well-defined, and analysis-ready. The SCA is compliant with applicable data standards and has been mapped to current DoD cost architectures.
This paper discusses the background of the CKB and how to use it, focusing on the System Capabilities Architecture (SCA).
Author(s):
Katherine E. McCormack
Ms. McCormack is an Operations Research Analyst for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Cost and Economics (ODASA-CE). She is a member of the Cost Policy and Research Division, where her current duties include developing cost policy and methodology guidance within the Army. In light of the changing DODI 5000.02, she is charged with development and scrutiny of Pre-Milestone-A and Capability-Based cost analysis guidance and methodology application for the Army cost community. Ms. McCormack graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Georgetown University.
Martha A. Roper
Ms. Roper is a Senior Operations Research Analyst for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Cost and Economics (ODASA-CE). She is the Early Cost Analysis Lead and the Tactical Vehicles Costing Lead. Prior to her arrival at Army Headquarters, Ms. Roper conducted intelligence studies for the National Ground Intelligence Center, which investigates foreign military technologies development. Ms. Roper graduated with highest honors as a Bachelor and Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.