Business Commons^™

Exploring The Dynamics And Modeling National Budget As A Supply Chain System: A Proposal For Reengineering The Budgeting Process And For Developing A Management Flight Simulator, Christoforos Kalloniatis

Theses and Dissertations

In the Science of Economics, there has been a debate about the optimal fiscal and budgetary policy that should be implemented by governments. On the one side, the advocates of the Keynesian Theory assert that in recession times governments should run budgets with deficits, in order to stimulate the economy, while the supporters of the Balanced Budget Theory, on the contrary, underscores the need to reduce and even eliminate the budget deficits. However, previous experience shows that both theories often failed to accomplish their goals, because they underestimated a very sensitive parameter: national budgets are not just an estimate of …

Individual Resistance To Change, Jeffrey C. Sandusky

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines individual resistance to change and concludes that it is a constantly evolving process with many contributing factors. Defining resistance to change is a challenge within its own right. To account for the actions involved in change resistance is an even more complex undertaking. In this research, resistance to change is examined and explained using the influences of goals, participation, leadership effectiveness, and communication. These factors are expressed as the composition of what makes an individual resist or accept a change. Each of the four elements of resistance to change are examined independently and then synthesized into a …

Using Predictive Analytics To Detect Major Problems In Department Of Defense Acquisition Programs, Austin W. Dowling

Theses and Dissertations

This research provides program analysts and Department of Defense (DoD) leadership with an approach to identify problems in real-time for acquisition contracts. Specifically, we develop optimization algorithms to detect unusual changes in acquisition programs’ Earned Value data streams. The research is focused on three questions. First, can we predict the contractor provided estimate at complete (EAC)? Second, can we use those predictions to develop an algorithm to determine if a problem will occur in an acquisition program or subprogram? Lastly, can we provide the probability of a problem occurring within a given timeframe? We find three of our models establish …

Evaluation Of Inventory Reduction Strategies: Balad Air Base Case Study, Aaron V. Glassburner

Theses and Dissertations

The end of military operations in Iraq brought a new set of challenges for Air Force supply professionals as they responsibly reduced levels of assets within the country while supporting on-going missions. This research evaluates two separate supply reduction plans that were implemented at Balad Air Base during the Air Force's final months in the area of operations. The logic of Air Force consumable inventory computations are modeled in detail and historical data from supply records are utilized to evaluate each plan's supportability to different notional fleet sizes. Each plan is evaluated under measures of backorders, backorder quantities, and customer …

Value Focused Thinking In Developing Aerobatic Aircraft Selection Model For Turkish Air Force, Emel Bengoz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to lessen the potential human errors by using decision analysis and cost analysis techniques. This research uses Value- Focused Thinking in conjunction with Multi-Objective Decision Analysis and Cost Analysis. It creates a decision-making model that allows decision makers to interact with analysts by specifying his/her objectives, values and preferences. On the other hand, cost analysis process determines cost effective alternatives. Alternatives are scored using 17 evaluation measures that are identified by interviews with the decision maker and stakeholders. Robustness of the model is tested by sensitivity analysis. Results of sensitivity analysis on current weights …

A Spreadsheet Model That Estimates The Impact Of Reduced Distribution Time On Inventory Investment Savings: What Is A Day Taken Out Of The Pipeline Worth In Inventory?, Serhat Saylam

Theses and Dissertations

In most of the literature dealing with inventory problems, either with a deterministic or probabilistic model, lead time is viewed as a prescribed constant or a stochastic variable that is not subject to control. But in many practical situations, lead time can be reduced by an extra crashing cost; in other words, it is controllable. This study proposes a repeatable spreadsheet optimization model that estimates the impact of reduced replenishment lead time on inventory investment savings at forward and strategic locations to motivate decision makers to support enterprise-wide distribution process improvement. The study provides users with a means of automatically …

The Impact Of Supply Chain Business Processes On Competitive Advantage And Organizational Performance, John F. Perry Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Organizational performance has routinely been viewed through a limited scope primarily focused on functions, practices, and resources directly controlled by the focal organization, but supply chain management (SCM) has broadened this scope to incorporate all organizations along the supply chain. This shifted the notion of competition from that of between individual organizations to between supply chains. Supply chain management is an ever growing field; multiple SCM frameworks exist today and are being further developed and defined. Successful firms must reside on the leading edge of management techniques, theories, and practices in order to stay competitive in an ever growing, more …

High-Performance Work Practices: A Case Study Using The Phenomenological Approach, Aaron J. Zorn

Theses and Dissertations

The fast-paced work environment that exists today requires organizations to adapt quickly in order to sustain high performance. Research suggests that the use of high-performance work practices (HPWPs) in human resource management is a possible way to increase performance. As the United States Air Force continues to face decreasing budgets, possible fixes such as the use of HPWPs may be considered. This research used a phenomenological approach to collect data from civil engineer controllers throughout the Air Force about their experiences and perceptions. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether current human resource practices are potentially contributing to …

The Effect Of Supply Chain Management Processes On Competitive Advantage And Organizational Performance, Ronald M. Salazar

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most significant changes in the paradigm of modern business management is that individual businesses no longer compete as solely autonomous entities, but rather as supply chains. In this emerging competitive environment, the ultimate success of the business will depend on management's ability to integrate the company's intricate network of business relationships. Effective supply chain management (SCM) has become a potentially valuable way of securing competitive advantage and improving organizational performance since competition is no longer between organizations, but among supply chains. This research conceptualizes and develops three dimensions of SCM practice (supplier relationship management, manufacturing flow management, …

A Benchmarking Study Of Air Force Program Manager Competencies, Kristy N. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last decade, the Department of Defense (DOD) has redesigned its acquisition process and the allocation of funding which in turned has had a major effect on the Air Force Acquisition program management workforce. The current acquisition workforce continues to face serious shortages of highly skilled program managers resulting in programs and projects overrun, undermanaged, and unexplained increased cost. Highly skilled talent with the necessary technology competencies is in high demand. These skills are critical to the success of programs and mission accomplishments.

The purpose of this benchmarking study is to determine if the Air Force are developing and …

Decision Analysis Using Value-Focused Thinking For Retention Of Long-Term Officers In The Korean Army, Jaebum Kim

Theses and Dissertations

The North Korean attacks on the South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, and on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in 2010 have resulted in the deterioration of the relationship between North and South Korea. The death of Kim Jong Il in December 2011 has raised serious concerns over the future of North Korea and political stability on the Korean Peninsula. Against this background, South Korea has continued its agenda of military reform to improve the retention and management of its military personnel. However, South Korea needs better methods and measures for evaluating its personnel to distinguish highly qualified officers …

Personnel, The Class 0 Supply Item: A Logistics Management Approach To Supplying Combatant Commanders With Warfighters, William P. Beard

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force's end strength has drawn down from 530,000 to just over 332,000 in the past 20 years. All indications are that resources will continue to become more restricted in the future, including manpower. Meanwhile, studies indicate that the Air Force will likely continue to withdraw permanently stationed forces overseas and rely increasingly on the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) construct for rapid mobility and force projection. With the AEF and efficient manpower utilization projected to become increasingly important, this study provides the first examination of the AEF as an overarching process for improvement opportunities. It proposes that the concept …

Modeling And Analysis Of Af Depot Business Practices For Supply, Jason A. Blake

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explored the impact of heroic actions on depot maintenance operations in terms of aircraft flow days through programmed depot maintenance and in terms of lost production hours. In an area of fiscal uncertaintly and reducing budgets, an understanding of the impact of heroic actions would lead to efficiency gains for the Air Force. Depots do not routinely report the associated impact of heroic actions on their operations and recent efforts to assess these impacts have not arrived to a definitive conclusion.

To assess the impact of heroic actions on depot processes, a discrete event simulation was developed for …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Job Search Behaviors On Air Force Company Grade Officer Turnover, Teri M. Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This study assesses the turnover behavior of Air Force Company Grade Officers (CGO) over a 17-month period. The study separated passive job search --behaviors that demonstrate a search for information to form an employment goal -- and active job search -- behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to pursuing an employment goal. The group of officers just beginning the job search process explain the least amount of variance in intent to turnover, yet explain the greatest amount of variance in actual turnover. Conversely, the group of officers near the end of the job search process explain the greatest amount of variance …

An Evaluation Of The Argentinean Basic Trainer Aircraft Domestic Development Project, Guillermo A. Stahl

Theses and Dissertations

The Argentine Air Force (AAF) is facing increasing challenges in maintaining and sustaining trainer aircraft. The current trainer aircraft used by the AAF face obsolescence issues and decreased serviceability. Argentina used to have the largest aircraft industry among the Latin America countries, but a number of factors such as not maintaining objectives and policies over time undermined its consolidation and were instrumental in Argentina losing its leadership position. To meet AAF requirements and revive Argentina's domestic aircraft industry, an indigenous basic trainer aircraft project is proposed. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the project's viability using a multi-criteria …

Minuteman Iii Cost Per Alert Hour Analysis, Allen R. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the cost associated with the Minuteman III (MM III) weapon system. The research develops three models for determining MM III costs per alert hour (CPAH). The first model is based on the Air Force Cost Analysis Improvement Group cost per flying hour model. The model is modified to include depot level reparables, consumables, and personnel costs. The second model is based on the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Cost Analysis Improvement Group cost per flying hour model and is formulated using service-wide data from the Air Force Total Ownership Cost tool. The third model is a …

Cng As A Feasible Replacement For The U.S. Transportation Sector, Veysel Uz

Theses and Dissertations

For many years there has been much attention on reducing U.S. fuel imports to improve the nation's energy independence. Much of the focus has been on the transportation sector, as it accounts for 28% of total U.S. energy consumption. This thesis examines compressed natural gas (CNG) as a possible alternative fuel for the U.S. transportation sector. To fully explore this possibility, it is essential to understand both the supply and demand sides of the problem. This research examines the availability and adequacy of CNG as a full or partial fuel replacement for U.S. transportation fuels, the factors that prevent CNG …

The Relationship Between Key Supply Chain Process Implementation, Competitive Advantage, & Organizational Performance, Anthonelli White Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of an ever-accumulating body of research on the topic of supply chain management (SCM), an agreed upon definition or framework regarding its essential constructs or practices does not exist. There are, however, a few leading academic perspectives on SCM that have been bolstered by the acceptance of industry leaders. One such perspective is that presented by the Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF). This study applies established survey methods to expand the body of knowledge pertaining to SCM by empirically validating the relationships conceptualized by the GSCF framework through an analysis of the perception of mid-level managers and senior-level …

Examining Express With Simulation, David R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The Execution and Prioritization of Repair Support System (EXPRESS) is a database tool used by the Air Force to prioritize depot maintenance of reparable spare parts to maximize responsiveness to warfighter need. Many studies have examined individual portions of EXPRESS, though few have examined it as an entire system. This effort proposes a modeling approach for examining the overall system behavior of EXPRESS using discrete event simulation. The emphasis of the model is to be flexible enough to provide useful insight into system performance, while also remaining open-ended enough to provide a foundation for future expansion and analysis. A case …

An Assessment Tool Of Performance Based Logistics Appropriateness, Korhan G. Yukselen

Theses and Dissertations

Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) is the most preferred product support strategy in the Department of Defense. Using performance-based acquisition methods to the maximum extent practicable when acquiring services is mandated. But although PBL should be used whenever feasible, few documents show how to measure its feasibility. The aim of this research is to fill this gap by answering the following question: What factors determine the appropriateness of the selection of PBL as a strategy for a specific acquisition? This study seeks to determine which factors affect success when selecting PBL as an acquisition method. Each factor is examined in detail and …

An Analysis Of Turnover Intentions: A Reexamination Of Air Force Civil Engineering Company Grade Officers, Joshua D. Connell

Theses and Dissertations

A potential retention problem is facing company grade officers (CGOs) in the Air Force Civil Engineer (CE) career field. This is due to the stress caused by a demanding workload experienced during a prolonged period of conflict (Iraq and Afghanistan), which is compounded by a reduction in force. The possibility of reduced retention is thus a concern for CE leadership. Based on past research, and the prior study conducted by Riddel (2010), a new model of turnover intentions was developed. The new model expands on Riddel's simplified model of turnover and attempts to focus on key factors that may help …

Turnover Intentions: A Quantitative Analysis Of Comments From Air Force Civil Engineering Company Grade Officers, Tj E. Gabrielson

Theses and Dissertations

Voluntary turnover is a concern for the military and many other organizations from a financial and performance standpoint. This study applied grounded theory to code and network comments provided by CE officers in 2010. The results of this study found the most influential construct that predicts turnover intentions to be the relationship of OPSTEMPO influencing interrole conflict. This conflict is increased by the workload at home station due to under manning within CE. OPSTEMPO is an important aspect of a military member's decision to stay or leave the service because it was found to interact with a multitude of other …

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Flight Test Approval Process And Its Implications: A Methodological Approach To Capture And Evaluate Hidden Costs And Value In The Overall Process, Tuan U. Tran

Theses and Dissertations

The advancement in small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAV) technology has brought a new revolution in the military domain. Their uses have become more synonymous with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. Concerns over their flight test safety and accountability have been addressed in multiple policies to mitigate mishaps and increase proper accountability. However, current DoD and FAA mandated regulations and policies concerning UAV flight tests are sometimes considered slow and time-consuming, which may lead to delays in UAV research and development. This study explores the quantitative and qualitative measure of benefits associated with an abbreviated flight test process for SUAVs. Specifically, …

The Moderating Effect Of Psychological Empowerment On The Relationship Between Network Centrality And Individual Job Performance, David A. Washington

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify the effect of psychological empowerment (PE) on social network location and individual performance. This study sought to test three hypotheses, which were introduced through a comprehensive literature review, regarding the relationships between social network centrality and individual job performance. Research has indicated a positive relationship between network centrality and performance; however, other research suggests performance can be better predicted by including motivation in the model. Therefore a moderation model was developed and tested to identify the relationships between network centrality, PE, and three categories of individual job performance: task performance, organizational citizenship …

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 …

Agent Based Modeling And Simulation Framework For Supply Chain Risk Management, Tiffany J. Harper

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a flexible agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) framework for supply chain risk management with significant enhancements to standard ABMS methods and supply chain risk modeling. Our framework starts with the use of software agents to gather and process input data for use in our simulation model. For our simulation model, we extend an existing mathematical framework for discrete event simulation (DES) to ABMS and then implement the concepts of variable resolution modeling from the DES domain to ABMS and provide further guidelines for aggregation and disaggregation of supply chain models. Existing supply chain risk management research focuses …