Validating the Use of Performance Risk Indices for System-Level Risk and Maturity Assessments

With pressure on the U.S. Defense Acquisition System (DAS) to reduce cost overruns and schedule delays, system engineers’ performance is only as good as their tools. Recent literature details a need for 1) objective, analytical risk quantification methodologies over traditional subjective qualitative methods – such as, expert judgment, and 2) mathematically rigorous system-level maturity assessments. The Mahafza, Componation, and Tippett (2005) Technology Performance Risk Index (TPRI) ties the assessment of technical performance to the quantification of risk of unmet performance; however, it is structured for component- level data as input. This study’s aim is to establish a modified TPRI with systems-level data as model input, and then validate the modified index with actual system-level data from the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). This work’s contribution is the establishment and validation of the System-level Performance Risk Index (SPRI). With the introduction of the SPRI, system-level metrics are better aligned, allowing for better assessment, tradeoff and balance of time, performance and cost constraints. This will allow system engineers and program managers to ultimately make better-informed system-level technical decisions throughout the development phase.

Author

• Holloman, Sherrica

Language

• en

Keyword

• Systems Engineering
• System Performance
• Risk Management
• Maturity Assessments
• Performance Risk Index
• Project Management

Date created

• 2016

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Engineering Mgt and Systems Engineering

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Stuban, Steven M. F.

Committee Member(s)

• Mazzuchi, Thomas
• Blackburn, Timothy
• Sarkani, Shahram
• Murphree, E. Lile

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/tt44pm92b