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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
A Fuzzy Framework For The Air Force Mission Dependency Index, Devin M. Depalmer
A Fuzzy Framework For The Air Force Mission Dependency Index, Devin M. Depalmer
Theses and Dissertations
AFIMSC completed an MDI modernization to support better risk-based decision-making by utilizing tactical mission-owner knowledge to quantify the relationship between facilities and the missions they enable. The resulting facility-mission risk scores leave room for improvement for better use of their intended purposes due to (1) the vulnerability of cognitive biases affecting survey responses due to the use of a traditional risk matrix (2) the lack of resolution between scores from risk ties and (3) the failure to include information from the operational and strategic organizational hierarchy level. This research addresses these concerns through the novel implementation of a fuzzy logic …
Evaluating The Impact Of Culture On Customer Satisfaction For Fms Projects, Yaquari A. Adams Ii
Evaluating The Impact Of Culture On Customer Satisfaction For Fms Projects, Yaquari A. Adams Ii
Theses and Dissertations
The cost, time, and quality pillars of the iron triangle in project management are often considered the most important factors for managers to consider when striving to achieve project success. However, recent literature suggests customer satisfaction and end-user benefit are the most important elements to prioritize during project development. This research analyzes the Air Force Security Assistance Center Construction Division and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) joint construction operations in relation to two Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) knowledge areas, project stakeholder management and project risk management. Project stakeholder management is addressed by identifying the relationship between cultural competency and …
Exploring The Limits Of Strategic Thought: Evaluating How Different Communication Modalities Affect The Nature Of Strategic Decision-Making Using Cognitive Hierarchy, Stephen D. Donnel
Exploring The Limits Of Strategic Thought: Evaluating How Different Communication Modalities Affect The Nature Of Strategic Decision-Making Using Cognitive Hierarchy, Stephen D. Donnel
Theses and Dissertations
This research examines and quantifies the degree to which both information communication modality and the situational complexity affect individuals' ability to process the provided information and determine an effective strategy. Human subject testing herein consists of benign benevolent intervention involving the presentation of a series of strategic situations. For each situation, a participant attempts to identify their best response for a two-player, normal-form game with complete information. In each such game, players seek to maximize their own utility while considering their own actions, their opponent's actions, and each player's respective preferences over outcomes resulting from the possible combinations of actions. …
Leading Indicator Analysis For High Speed Sled Test Programs, Laurie C. Knorr
Leading Indicator Analysis For High Speed Sled Test Programs, Laurie C. Knorr
Theses and Dissertations
Leading Indicators (LI) were introduced to the Systems Engineering (SE) community in 2005. These measures are used to evaluate the effectiveness of how a specific work activity is applied on a project in a manner that provides information about impacts that are likely to affect the system performance. The LIs are designed to give a project manager/systems engineer insight into where their development project is heading and a chance to implement corrective actions early. This research strives to apply LIs to the testing community, specifically high speed sled testing, to improve the testing process and, in turn, improve the quality …
Enterprise Requirements And Acquisition Model, David A. Leach, Chad T. Searle
Enterprise Requirements And Acquisition Model, David A. Leach, Chad T. Searle
Theses and Dissertations
In support of senior leadership emphasis on improving early systems engineering and analysis, the Enterprise Requirements and Acquisition Model (ERAM) is a quantitative discrete-event process simulation model that accounts for activities from the identification of a desired space capability early in the JCIDS process through Milestone C of the acquisition system resulting in a probabilistic schedule distribution for a given concept. This model of the DoD's space capability development process will provide valuable decision making information for Concept Characterization and Technical Descriptions referenced during Analysis of Alternatives. The research focused on identifying activities, assigning historical triangular distributions and probabilities at …
Application And Validation Of Concept Maturity Assessment Framework, Mathews C. Scharch, Jeremy J. Homan
Application And Validation Of Concept Maturity Assessment Framework, Mathews C. Scharch, Jeremy J. Homan
Theses and Dissertations
Far too often decision makers select concepts based on insufficient data, resulting in projects that are over-budget, over-schedule, and not what the customer wants. Research efforts have proposed a stage-gated concept maturity framework as a tool to assess and increase the maturity of concepts. This research uses multiple validation techniques to demonstrate the value this framework can provide. Interviews with acquisition professionals capture qualitative and quantitative data on the utility of the elements of the framework and the acquisition process. This research also applies the framework to a current acquisition program to determine if it can be broadly applied for …
A Tailored Systems Engineering Framework For Science And Technology Projects, Stephen M. Behm, J. Bradford Pitzer, Jane F. White
A Tailored Systems Engineering Framework For Science And Technology Projects, Stephen M. Behm, J. Bradford Pitzer, Jane F. White
Theses and Dissertations
As government and industry becomes subject to a wider range of technology initiatives, science and technology (S&T) research project leadership recognizes the need to incorporate more systems engineering (SE) rigor into their projects. The objective of this research is to develop a tailorable systems engineering framework for S&T project planning, execution, assessment and transition. The key deliverable is an Excel-based tool instantiating the SE framework for a wide range of S&T projects in technology development organizations. It includes a report with tailored methods based on programmatic discriminants.
To develop this framework, a comprehensive understanding of SE principles is applied to …
A System Dynamic Model Of Leader Emergence, Paul S. Wever
A System Dynamic Model Of Leader Emergence, Paul S. Wever
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this thesis is to develop a system dynamics model of leader emergence. Longitudinal social network and personality data were collected in a class of enlisted military professionals attending a 6-week leadership development course. Findings support known relationships in existing leadership research. The thesis demonstrates the applicability of system dynamics toward the complex social phenomena of leader emergence.
A Systematic Approach For Securing Our Space Assets, Heather Yates, Michael R. Grimaila
A Systematic Approach For Securing Our Space Assets, Heather Yates, Michael R. Grimaila
Faculty Publications
We are surrounded by the use of space assets, but for the most part are unaware of their impact on our lives. On a daily basis, space assets contribute to our well-being and others around the world. Space activities have enhanced security, monitored the environment, improved and increased information growth and flow, created economic growth, and changed the way people around the world live and work.[1] Since the 1991 Gulf War, we have also come to understand how much the US military depends on space. Military forces use satellite information for communications, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, warning, weather, navigation, and timing. …
Executable Model Development From Architectural Description With Application To The Time Sensitive Target Problem, Luis M. Diaz Rodriguez
Executable Model Development From Architectural Description With Application To The Time Sensitive Target Problem, Luis M. Diaz Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations
As the Department of Defense (DoD) moves to a capabilities-based approach for requirements definition and systems development, it has become necessary to conceptualize and evaluate our needs at the System of Systems (SoS) level. Desired capabilities are often achievable only through seamless integration of many different systems. As the classical systems engineering approaches are not suited to effectively handle the complexity of SoS level concepts, an architectures-driven approach has emerged as a way of defining and evaluating these new concepts. While the use of architectures for documenting and tracking interfaces and interoperability concerns is generally understood, architectural analysis and the …
Academic Audit Of Afit Programs In Systems Engineering, United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
Academic Audit Of Afit Programs In Systems Engineering, United States Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
AFIT Documents
This report provides an assessment and recommendations for the systems engineering educational programs at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The Air Force needs in systems engineering education are briefly summarized, followed by an analysis of the educational program at AFIT. Based on the assessment of AFIT's program, a set of recommendations are given for improving the programs and their utility to the Air Force. Appendices to the report contain additional information on the AFIT programs and an assessment of other graduate systems engineering programs in the US.
Analytical Results For A Single-Unit System Subject To Markovian Wear And Shocks, Daniel E. Finkelstein
Analytical Results For A Single-Unit System Subject To Markovian Wear And Shocks, Daniel E. Finkelstein
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis develops and analyzers a mathematical model for the reliability measures of a single-unit system subject to continuous wear due to its operating environment and randomly occurring shocks that inflict a random amount of damage to the unit. Assuming a Markovian operating environment and shock arrival mechanism, Laplace-Stieltjes transform expressions are obtained for the failure time distribution and all of its moments. Moreover, an analytical expression is derived for the long-run availability of the single-unit system when it is subject to an inspect-and-replace maintenance policy. The analytical results are illustrated, and their results compared with those of Monte Carlo-simulated …
Ontological Engineering And Mapping In Multiagent Systems Development, Jonathan M. Dileo
Ontological Engineering And Mapping In Multiagent Systems Development, Jonathan M. Dileo
Theses and Dissertations
Multiagent systems have received much attention in recent years due to their advantages in complex, distributed environments. Previous work at the Air Force Institute of Technology has developed a methodology for analyzing, designing, and developing multiagent systems, called Multiagent Systems Engineering (MaSE). MaSE currently does not address the information domain of the system, which is an integral part of designing proper system execution. This research extends the MaSE methodology to include the use of ontologies for information domain specification. The extensions allow the designer to specify information flow by using objects from the ontology as parameters in agent conversations. The …
Quality Initiatives In The Air Force Development Of Reusable Launch Vehicles, Charles S. Galbreath
Quality Initiatives In The Air Force Development Of Reusable Launch Vehicles, Charles S. Galbreath
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis identifies useful tools and techniques available to aid the Air Force development of a reusable launch vehicle (RLV). These tools are identified by comparing traits found within the Lean Aerospace Initiative, Six Sigma and systems engineering. While identified specifically for the RLV effort, these tools and techniques will be of use to many development programs. Historical perspectives of both RLV development efforts within the Air Force and origins of modern quality teachings are provided to establish a common foundation of knowledge, upon which, further analysis can be conducted. This thesis, also, summarizes the current RLV effort within the …
Concept Exploration Of An Australian Indigenous Space Launch Capability, Anthony J. Rogers
Concept Exploration Of An Australian Indigenous Space Launch Capability, Anthony J. Rogers
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis explores the possibility of establishing an Australian indigenous space launch capability through developing and examining an Australian space launch program model. The model is based around launch site location, vehicle design, program duration, and the percentage Australian indigenous input into the program. The model was optimised in an effort maximise the benefits of such a capability, namely political prestige, security and in country technological base, while minimising the program's overall cost.
The Use Of Systems Engineering Processes And Tools To Develop A System Dynamic Simulation Model Of Engineering Support During The Development Phase Of An Acquisition Program, Jason E. Bartolomei
The Use Of Systems Engineering Processes And Tools To Develop A System Dynamic Simulation Model Of Engineering Support During The Development Phase Of An Acquisition Program, Jason E. Bartolomei
Theses and Dissertations
Due to the increase of system complexity and the existing draw down of manpower allocations, today's acquisitions environment desperately needs a systems approach to decision making. Many studies have been performed to model the entire government acquisition environment. Due to the high degree of aggregation, front line decision-makers have had no use for the information these models provide. This research focuses on the Air Force's largest functional support element in aircraft systems development, engineering. I will only consider one phase of the government acquisition cycle the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD). This is the development cycle, which begins with initial …