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Articles 31 - 60 of 86
Full-Text Articles in Business
Acquisition Program Problem Detection Using Text Mining Methods, Trevor P. Miller
Acquisition Program Problem Detection Using Text Mining Methods, Trevor P. Miller
Theses and Dissertations
This research provides program analysts and Department of Defense leadership with an approach to identify problems in real-time for acquisition contracts. Specifically, we test the abilities of statistical algorithms using text mining techniques to detect unusual changes in acquisition programs’ cost estimates at the completion of the programs. Currently, the government purchases monthly written reports, an informational tool on status of an acquisition program, but has not been integrated into problem prediction analysis. We center our research on the following two questions: First, can we quantify the qualitative written reports? Second, can we use these quantifications of the texts to …
Smoking In The United States Air Force: Trends, Most Prevalent Diseases And Their Association With Cost, Michail Gkoutouloudis
Smoking In The United States Air Force: Trends, Most Prevalent Diseases And Their Association With Cost, Michail Gkoutouloudis
Theses and Dissertations
This research focuses on the smoking rates among the Active Duty Air Force (ADAF) personnel and the association of smoking and cost of hospitalization because of diseases related to smoking. Three types of analyses were used in this research. The Contingency Analysis was based on the data taken from the Air Force Web HA questionnaire. The Pivot Table Analysis and the Regression Analysis were based on a second data set associated with the cost of hospitalization. The Contingency Analysis showed that smoking in the U.S. Air Force is more prevalent among the enlisted, males, and the younger age groups. The …
Virtualness Of The Cost Estimating Community, Whiticar S. Darvill
Virtualness Of The Cost Estimating Community, Whiticar S. Darvill
Theses and Dissertations
Many researchers have sought to identify the sources for cost and schedule growth, most researchers failed to analyze the resource utilization of the cost community. This research explores how the cost community allocates its time. Furthermore, by examining how resources are spent, this research will juxtapose the desires of recent Congressional and Department of Defense policies against the current demands of the cost community. A thorough understanding of resource allocation requires research into the inherent virtualness of the community. Early virtualness predicated the notion of extremes, either virtual or not. However, recent literature expands virtualness into gradients and explains that …
Alternative Active Duty Military Retirement Plan, Amy L. Schmidt
Alternative Active Duty Military Retirement Plan, Amy L. Schmidt
Theses and Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Using Earned Value Data To Detect Potential Problems In Acquisition Contracts, C. Grant Keaton
Using Earned Value Data To Detect Potential Problems In Acquisition Contracts, C. Grant Keaton
Theses and Dissertations
Government contractors report earned value (EV) information to government agencies in monthly Contract Performance Reports (CPR). Though major differences may exist in the data between subsequent CPRs, we know of no government effort to detect these occurrences. The identification of major changes may locate and isolate problems and thus prevent million and billion dollar cost and schedule overruns. In this study, we develop an approach to identify changes in the Cost Performance Index (CPI) and the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) that may indicate problems with contract performance. We find the detection algorithm indentifies changes in the CPI and the SPI …
An Econometric Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Compensation To Retention, Juan Jose Guzman
An Econometric Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Compensation To Retention, Juan Jose Guzman
Theses and Dissertations
In July 2001, Lieutenant General Donald L. Peterson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, United States Air Force, testified before Congress that adverse retention rates were senior leadership’s number one concern. Military compensation sustains "defense manpower policies that in turn support the nation's defense strategy." Defense spending must be allocated efficiently to maintain the optimal mix of forces and weapon systems to respond to national security objectives. The President requested $149.9 billion for military pay and healthcare for Fiscal Year 2009, or 29 percent of the total proposed defense budget. When military compensation constitutes nearly one-third of department expenses, its impact …
Analysis Of The Military Medical Retirement System, Joseph M. Barnum
Analysis Of The Military Medical Retirement System, Joseph M. Barnum
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to evaluate the 60 year old military medical retirement system. Specifically, this thesis answered three research questions regarding a comparison of pay between the current system and the societal standard for injury and illness, identification of current segments of the military population disproportionately affected by the current system, and establishment of a minimal standard for medical retirement compensation. Previous research established the societal standard for compensation as the Value of Statistical Life. This thesis compared the current military medical retirement system with the Value of Statistical Life and identified several segments of the military …
Cost Forecasting Models For The Air Force Flying Hour Program, Tyler J. Hess
Cost Forecasting Models For The Air Force Flying Hour Program, Tyler J. Hess
Theses and Dissertations
The fiscally constrained environment in which the Air Force executes its mission places great emphasis on accurate cost estimates for planning and budgeting purposes. Inaccurate estimates result in budget risks and undermine the ability of Air Force leadership to allocate resources efficiently. This thesis evaluates the current method used by the Air Force and introduces new methods to forecast future Flying Hour Program costs. The findings suggest the current forecasting method’s assumption of a proportional relationship between cost and flying hours is inappropriate and the relationship is actually inelastic. Prior research has used log-linear least squares regression techniques to forecast …
The Correlation Of Human Capital On Costs Of Air Force Acquisition Programs, Stephen E. Gray
The Correlation Of Human Capital On Costs Of Air Force Acquisition Programs, Stephen E. Gray
Theses and Dissertations
Previous studies have linked human capital with performance. The studies have shown performance, measured as output, of a firm can be increased by adding more personnel and/or increasing education levels. This research uses the Cobb-Douglas Production function to build upon that relationship of inputs to outputs. The output in this study is the average cost overrun of Aeronautical Systems Center research, development, test, and evaluation contracts managed from 1994 to 2008. The inputs are the numbers of military/government employee financial managers, program managers, engineers, rated personnel, and military/government employees in those career fields possessing a graduate degree or higher. A …
Modeling U.S. Occupational Health Costs, Joseph M. Bauer
Modeling U.S. Occupational Health Costs, Joseph M. Bauer
Theses and Dissertations
The primary purpose of this research was to improve the effectiveness of cost comparison analyses for the 75th Aerospace Medicine Group, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Bioenvironmental engineers sought a more robust cost comparison tool, allowing engineers to quickly determine the viability of proposed occupational health-related expenditures. To justify the funding of potential projects, engineers must quantify the expected cost savings. Improved cost comparison analysis enables personnel to better justify worthy projects or filter out uneconomical solutions. A secondary purpose of this research was to validate Department of Defense (DoD) occupational illness cost factors. This research effort focused on cost …
A Cost Analysis Of Dining Facilities: Should The Air Force Continue To Operate Dining Facilities?, Michael J. Hickam
A Cost Analysis Of Dining Facilities: Should The Air Force Continue To Operate Dining Facilities?, Michael J. Hickam
Theses and Dissertations
The Air Force is currently spending approximately $128M per year for food service contracts alone (Hamilton, 2008). These costs do not even account for the costs of labor, supplying food, maintenance contracts, or even utilities. With available annual dollars becoming smaller, the Air Force must examine its current processes and eliminate those which are not mission essential. The Air Force is currently testing new ways of providing meals for their enlisted members. In, 2009, several bases will begin using a swipe card system where airmen can use their swipe card to eat at any services operated facility. In addition, several …
Forecasting Flying Hour Costs Of The B-1, B-2, And B-52 Bomber Aircraft, Stefanie L. Van Dyk
Forecasting Flying Hour Costs Of The B-1, B-2, And B-52 Bomber Aircraft, Stefanie L. Van Dyk
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis both evaluates, and presents improvements to, the current method of forecasting flying costs of Air Force aircraft. It uses depot level repairable (DLR) and consumable (CONS) data for the Air Force's bomber platforms: B-1B, B-2, and B-52H. The current forecasting method assumes a proportional relationship between costs and flying hours such that 1) when no hours are flown costs are zero, and 2) a 1% increase in flying hours will increase costs by 1%. The findings of this research indicate that applying log-linear ordinary least squares regression techniques may be an improved fit of flying cost data over …
Strategies For Minimizing Monetary Loss In The Department Of Defense Budget Through Use Of Financial Derivatives, Michael T. Edwards
Strategies For Minimizing Monetary Loss In The Department Of Defense Budget Through Use Of Financial Derivatives, Michael T. Edwards
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to examine whether it would be in the best interest of the Department of Defense to consider using currency hedging as a way to protect its budget from negative currency fluctuations in the US Dollar. Specifically, the use of futures and options contracts was examined. Overseas expenditure data was collected on the YEN and the EURO for Fiscal Years 2001 to 2007 and cross-referenced with the contract prices for the aforementioned hedges during the same period of time. Using an ex post facto analysis with the gathered data, the results show that hedging with …
Contract Delays: The Impact Of Department Of Defense (Dod) Contractors' Wealth, Jacqueline M. Leskowich
Contract Delays: The Impact Of Department Of Defense (Dod) Contractors' Wealth, Jacqueline M. Leskowich
Theses and Dissertations
The monetary incentives used to motivate DoD contractors’ schedule performance on Acquisition Category One programs afford them the opportunity as a whole to earn billions of dollars in addition to their contract award. These incentives are paid 85-90% of the time regardless of schedule performance. While these contractors are paid to avoid delays, there is an indication the delay increases the contractor’s stock value. This research tested the theory that contract delays significantly impact the company’s stock returns. The results found both positive and negative reactions to a firm’s value. Delays caused by budget cuts tend to have a negative …
Forecasting The Kc-135 Cost Per Flying Hour: A Panel Data Analysis, Michael T. Bryant
Forecasting The Kc-135 Cost Per Flying Hour: A Panel Data Analysis, Michael T. Bryant
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis developed models to forecast the KC-135R monthly Consumables (CONS) and Depot Level Reparable (DLR) Cost per Flying Hour (CPFH) for each U.S. Air Force service component. Using data for each operating location from FY1998 to FY2004, the models were constructed using panel data analysis, a form of regression that adds a cross-sectional and time-series dimension. In addition to including factors previously identified as prime contributors to CPFH, the models added new elements that may influence maintenance costs and be of interest to policymakers. These elements included mission capable rates, airframe operating hours, and climatology factors. An interaction variable …
Price Vs. Performance: The Value Of Next Generation Fighter Aircraft, John M. Stelly
Price Vs. Performance: The Value Of Next Generation Fighter Aircraft, John M. Stelly
Theses and Dissertations
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is currently recapitalizing its aging fighter aircraft inventory with the F-22A and F-35. While the DoD may consider cost and performance issues, it does not use a quantitative model that effectively measures the tradeoffs between the two. This thesis constructs a hedonic model of the fighter aircraft market to measure the implicit price on fighter performance characteristics and specifically applies it to next-generation aircraft. Data from 50 aircraft from 1949-present were used to construct two models – one based on procurement costs and one based on research, design, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) costs. …
The Impact Of Human Capital On The Cost Of Air Force Acquisition Programs, Jeffrey C. Feuring
The Impact Of Human Capital On The Cost Of Air Force Acquisition Programs, Jeffrey C. Feuring
Theses and Dissertations
Previous studies have established a link between Human Capital and performance both at the firm and the individual level. These studies have shown that performance can be improved with additional personnel and/or higher education levels. This study attempts to build on this relationship by using the Cobb-Douglas Production function to relate inputs to outputs. The inputs to the function are the number of cost analysts positions, military and civilian, and an education variable for the number of master’s degrees in the field. The measure of output is the average cost overrun of Air Force contracts. A time series regression was …
The Costs Of Not Using Green Design In The Usaf: Would Using Green Building Design Have Resulted In Life Cycle Cost Savings?, John Kimball Osborne
The Costs Of Not Using Green Design In The Usaf: Would Using Green Building Design Have Resulted In Life Cycle Cost Savings?, John Kimball Osborne
Theses and Dissertations
This study’s purpose is to determine if using green building design would have resulted in life cycle costs savings for the United States Air Force. Green designs are those that employ steps to mitigate the impacts facilities have on the environment by using resources more efficiently than conventional design. The prevailing ranking system for green design in the United States is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system which evaluates facilities on certain characteristics, assigning point values that translate to non-certified, certified, silver, gold, or platinum ratings. The author attempts here to show how previous studies indicated …
How Does The Political Nature Of The Defense Acquisition Process Affect Cost Growth, Nikolaos Gounatidis
How Does The Political Nature Of The Defense Acquisition Process Affect Cost Growth, Nikolaos Gounatidis
Theses and Dissertations
Many of the major programs of the DoD are experiencing cost growth. This research developed an empirical model in order to explain cost overruns. This thesis sought to discover relationships between cost overruns and factors that originate from the political nature of the defense acquisition process. The model describes how the political and legislative balances of power between the parties of the Congress, the change of the purchase habits of the DoD from production to service contracts, and the spreading of defense manufacturing capacity across the U.S are related to cost overruns. This research studied 193 programs from 1970 to …
A Hedonic Approach To Estimating Software Cost Using Ordinary Least Squares Regression And Nominal Attribute Variables, Marc D. Ellis
A Hedonic Approach To Estimating Software Cost Using Ordinary Least Squares Regression And Nominal Attribute Variables, Marc D. Ellis
Theses and Dissertations
Software spending is increasing within the DoD, NASA, and other technologically advanced organizations, with significant effects on program budgets. Cost estimators must have the best tools available. However, many current models are problematic due to inaccuracy and unavailability of the input parameters, the technical expertise and expense required to operate them, and the difficulty in explaining their outputs. Two databases were analyzed: 60 NASA/JPL software projects and 116 projects from the International Software Benchmarking and Standards Group database. Models developed using ordinary least squares regression employed parameters representing the presence of project characteristics. The models' predictive characteristics were compared based …
Cost As An Independent Variable: A Study Of Its Continued Use By Aeronautical Systems Center's Programs And Their Contractors To Set And Maintain Cost Objectives, Kevin W. Codrington
Cost As An Independent Variable: A Study Of Its Continued Use By Aeronautical Systems Center's Programs And Their Contractors To Set And Maintain Cost Objectives, Kevin W. Codrington
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to assess whether Aeronautical System Center's (ASC's) acquisition professionals believe CAIV has enabled their programs and contractors to set and maintain cost objectives. The three major objectives of this thesis are to answer the following questions: First, Do ASC's acquisition professionals believe their programs are setting and maintaining cost objectives? Second, Do ASC's acquisition professionals believe their contractors are setting and maintaining cost objectives? Last, what is the practitioners' perspective of CAIV? This research identified CAIV as being well received by DoD. It also identified that ASC's acquisition professionals believe their programs and contractors …
Analysis And Forecasting Of U.S. Navy Operating And Support (O&S) Costs For Rotary Aircraft, Christopher J. Wilkes
Analysis And Forecasting Of U.S. Navy Operating And Support (O&S) Costs For Rotary Aircraft, Christopher J. Wilkes
Theses and Dissertations
This research explores forecasting techniques to estimate the Cost per Flying Hour (CPFH) for Navy rotary aircraft. Three separate forecasting techniques were evaluated to better predict the CPFH for better estimating and budgeting by the U.S. Navy. The process begins by empirically analyzing Operating & Support cost categories for each helicopter. Trends were examined in CPFH. For forecasting purposes, actual CPFH figures were compiled from 1997 to 2003 for the CH-46D, the CH-53D, the MH-53E, the SH-60F, the UH-1N, and the UH-3H helicopters. The forecasting techniques explored were the 3-year moving average, the single exponential smoothing method, and Holt's linear …
A Comparative Analysis Of The Cost Of Oversight Of Major Defense Acquisition Programs Strictly Under The Direction Of The Department Of Defense 5000 Series Of Instructions, Gary P. Rousseau
Theses and Dissertations
The United States Department of Defense has been caught in a continual cycle of acquisition reform since its inception over two hundred years ago. The goal of acquisition reform has always been to find the perfect balance between the amount of program oversight and the amount of flexibility in which program managers are allowed to manage their programs. The only truth learned throughout this process is that defense acquisition does need oversight and that there is no cookie cutter pattern for oversight that will fit all types of acquisition programs equally well. That being said, the focus of this thesis …
Logistic And Multiple Regression: The Two-Step Approach To Estimating Cost Growth, Daniel C. Genest
Logistic And Multiple Regression: The Two-Step Approach To Estimating Cost Growth, Daniel C. Genest
Theses and Dissertations
This study sought to predict cost growth in major Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs using logistic and multiple regression. In recent years, the use of statistical regression has proven to be successful in predicting the relationships associated with cost growth. This research follows on the work of Sipple (2002) and Bielecki (2003) and further explores the possibilities of using statistical regression to accurately estimate the dollar value associated with risk and uncertainty early in a program's life cycle. In doing so, the author intends to reduce cost growth by increasing the accuracy of the original cost estimates subsequently used …
Analysis And Forecasting Of Army Operating And Support Cost For Rotary Aircraft, John C. Hawkins
Analysis And Forecasting Of Army Operating And Support Cost For Rotary Aircraft, John C. Hawkins
Theses and Dissertations
This research explores forecasting techniques to estimate the Cost per Flying Hour (CPFH) for Army Helicopters. Specifically, three separate forecasting techniques were evaluated to better predict the CPFH for better estimating and budgeting by the U.S. Army. For forecasting purposes, actual CPFH figures were compiled from 1995 to 2003 for all MACOMs flying the AH-64A, the CH-47D, and the UH-60A helicopters. The number of MACOMs was then reduced to the top three with regard to total CPFH expenditure. The use of a 3-year moving average, the single exponential smoothing method, and Holt's linear method were explored for each helicopter's data. …
Creating Cost Growth Models For The Engineering And Manufacturing Development Phase Of Acquisition Using Logistic And Multiple Regression, Brandon M. Lucas
Creating Cost Growth Models For The Engineering And Manufacturing Development Phase Of Acquisition Using Logistic And Multiple Regression, Brandon M. Lucas
Theses and Dissertations
Cost growth remains a concern for cost analysts, program managers, senior DoD decision-makers, Congress, and even the American public. All of these people have a vested interest in the cost of DoD programs and most would like to see those costs decrease; as such, we need additional tools to help combat cost growth. Previous research creates the foundation for the use of a two-step methodology to help predict cost growth, which we follow closely. First, utilizing logistic regression we analyze whether specific program characteristics predict cost growth within the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase for combined RDT&E and procurement …
Establishing A Foundation To Capture The Cost Of Oversight For A Major Defense Program Within The Information Technology (It) Acquisition Community, Monroe Neal Jr.
Establishing A Foundation To Capture The Cost Of Oversight For A Major Defense Program Within The Information Technology (It) Acquisition Community, Monroe Neal Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
In 1970 the Department of Defense introduced the Department of Defense Directive 5000 (DoD 5000) to standardize the acquisition process. The directive created oversight forums to ensure the policies and procedures created were followed, to track program progress, and to identify programs in trouble. Although oversight was essentially created to help reduce the cost of acquisitions, there is reason to believe that it may increase the costs. However, because only been a few studies have been conducted to estimate the cost of oversight, no one knows how much "oversight" actually costs individual programs. Numerous oversight processes are being used today, …
Estimating Cost Growth In Engineering And Schedule Cost Categories Using A Two-Pronged Regression Approach, Chris J. Mcdaniel
Estimating Cost Growth In Engineering And Schedule Cost Categories Using A Two-Pronged Regression Approach, Chris J. Mcdaniel
Theses and Dissertations
This research confirms the usefulness of the logistic and multiple regression two-step procedure for assessing cost growth in major DoD weapon systems. We compile programmatic data from the Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) between 1990 and 2002 for programs covering all defense departments. Our analysis concentrates on cost growth in the procurement appropriations of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of acquisitions. We investigate the use of logistic regression in cost growth analysis to predict whether or not cost growth will occur in a program. If applicable, multiple regression is implemented to predict how much cost growth will occur. Our study …
Logistic And Multiple Regression: A Two-Pronged Approach To Accurately Estimate Cost Growth In Major Dod Weapon Systems, Matthew B. Rossetti
Logistic And Multiple Regression: A Two-Pronged Approach To Accurately Estimate Cost Growth In Major Dod Weapon Systems, Matthew B. Rossetti
Theses and Dissertations
This research confirms the usefulness of the logistic and multiple regression two-step procedure for assessing cost growth in major DoD weapon systems. We compile programmatic data from the Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) between 1990 and 2002 for programs covering all defense departments. Our analysis concentrates on cost growth in the procurement appropriations of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of acquisitions. We investigate the use of logistic regression in cost growth analysis to predict whether or not cost growth will occur in a program. If applicable, multiple regression is implemented to predict how much cost growth will occur. Our study …
An Analysis Of Missile Systems Cost Growth And Implementation Of Acquisition Reform Initiatives Using A Hybrid Adjusted Cost Growth Model, Christopher C. Abate
An Analysis Of Missile Systems Cost Growth And Implementation Of Acquisition Reform Initiatives Using A Hybrid Adjusted Cost Growth Model, Christopher C. Abate
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis examined cost growth in Department of Defense (DoD) missile systems from 1991 to 2001 using Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) data with a hybrid adjusted cost growth (ACG) model. In addition, an analysis of acquisition reform initiatives during the treatment period was conducted to determine if reform efforts impacted missile system cost growth. A pre-reform (1 January 1991 to 31 December 1996) period and post reform (1 January 1997 to 31 December 2001) period was subjectively developed to compare the mean annual ACG during each period for statistical differences. The hybrid ACG model outlined in this thesis may aid …