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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Full-Text Articles in Business

Evaluating Management Strategies For Automated Test Systems/Equipment (Ats/E): An F-15 Case Study, Jeremy A. Howe Mar 2005

Evaluating Management Strategies For Automated Test Systems/Equipment (Ats/E): An F-15 Case Study, Jeremy A. Howe

Theses and Dissertations

The management of United States Air Force ATS/E presents a variety of issues that affect the long-term capability and mission readiness of weapon systems. Traditional procurement processes suggest that individual aircraft platform System Program Offices (SPOs) developed, improved and replaced ATE on an "as-required" basis. Increased obsolescence, however, and a concern for maintaining longer-term viability provided the necessary inertia for a movement towards the procurement and development of consolidated, common test equipment that would support multiple weapon systems. In 1998, the Air Force Chief of Staff directed HQ AFMC to establish a Common Support Equipment office to facilitate the combination …

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Study On The Air Force's Ability To Field Senior Logistics Readiness Officers Experienced In Fuels Management, Keith A. Lewis Mar 2005

Study On The Air Force's Ability To Field Senior Logistics Readiness Officers Experienced In Fuels Management, Keith A. Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

A major initiative resulting from the 1999 Chief of Staff of the Air Force Logistics Review (CLR) was the development of the logistics readiness officer (LRO) career field, which combined three previous logistics fields; supply, transportation, and logistics plans. As a result, the training for a LRO promotes logistics function familiarity rather than expertise. This is of particular concern in the critical area of fuels management. Fuel is an absolute necessity in all military operations and its proper management is vital to mission success. The objective of this research is to determine the impact due to the LRO career field …

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Examining The Impact Of Quality Assurance Manning Practices In Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Units, Terry D. Moore Mar 2005

Examining The Impact Of Quality Assurance Manning Practices In Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Units, Terry D. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the impact that current USAF Quality Assurance (QA) manning practices has on key aircraft wing- and unit-level metrics. Interviews and surveys culminated in development of a QA Manning Effectiveness Matrix. We then used the matrix to calculate historical QA manning effectiveness at 16 ACC bases. Effectiveness scores were regressed with associated historical data for 26 metrics derived from a Delphi survey. Nine metrics were deemed statistically significant, including break rates, cannibalization rates, flying schedule effectiveness rates, key task list pass rates, maintenance scheduling effectiveness rates, quality verification inspection pass rates, repeat rates, …

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Optimization Model For Base-Level Delivery Routes And Crew Scheduling, Young-Ho Cha Mar 2005

Optimization Model For Base-Level Delivery Routes And Crew Scheduling, Young-Ho Cha

Theses and Dissertations

In the U.S. Air Force, a Logistic Readiness Squadron (LRS) provides material management, distribution, and oversight of contingency operations. Dispatchers in the LRS must quickly prepare schedules that meet the needs of their customers while dealing with real-world constraints, such as time windows, delivery priorities, and intermittent recurring missions. Currently, LRS vehicle operation elements are faced with a shortage of manpower and lack an efficient scheduling algorithm and tool. The purpose of this research is to enhance the dispatchers' capability to handle flexible situations and produce "good" schedules within current manpower restrictions. In this research, a new scheduling model and …

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Decision Analysis Method For Air Mobility Beddown Planning Scenarios, Jacob M. Salmond Mar 2005

Decision Analysis Method For Air Mobility Beddown Planning Scenarios, Jacob M. Salmond

Theses and Dissertations

Currently at Air Mobility Command, Plans and Programming, Requirements Division (AMC/A75R), infrastructure requirements for a proposed permanent beddown location are accomplished through corporate knowledge and manual lookup. With the loss of corporate knowledge in the foreseeable future, AMC/A75R is would like to capture this knowledge base in an information system. This research developed a spreadsheet analysis tool that takes hard requirements and compares them with existing capabilities at a given location. Through gap analysis, the tool produced infrastructure requirement shortfalls and associated costs to satisfy the shortfalls.

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An Examination Of Reverse Logistics Factors Impacting The 463-L Pallet Program, Andrew J. Peterson Mar 2005

An Examination Of Reverse Logistics Factors Impacting The 463-L Pallet Program, Andrew J. Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

During peacetime operations, the process of tracking and managing 463-L assets within the Air Mobility Command airlift system results in infrequent imbalances or accountability issues. However, during contingency operations, AMC loses control of 463-L assets as they are turned over to the intra-theater distribution system. Since current contingency operations began in October of 2001, the Air Force has been unable to account for over 97,000 463-L pallets and 220,000 cargo nets. With a single pallet and net set costing over $1,300, the total value of the equipment unaccounted for exceeds $126 million. If not corrected, this failure to account for …

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An Extension Of The Theory Of Job Embeddedness: An Investigation Of Effects On Intent To Turnover Of United States Air Force Members, Charles E. Hassell Mar 2005

An Extension Of The Theory Of Job Embeddedness: An Investigation Of Effects On Intent To Turnover Of United States Air Force Members, Charles E. Hassell

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the ability of Mitchell, Holtom, Lee, Sablynski, and Erze's (2001) job embeddedness construct to predict intent to turnover after considering the historical predictors of job satisfaction, organizational commitment, job search, and job alternatives. This study extended the research on job embeddedness by investigating the extent to which age, race, gender, and marital status would affect the relationship between job embeddedness and intent to turnover. Results indicated that job embeddedness was a significant predictor of intent to turnover. However, age, race, gender, and marital status were not found to be significant moderators of job embeddedness and intent to …

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Barriers To Electronic Records Management (Erm): An Exploratory Case Study Investigating Erm In The Deployed Environment During Operations Enduring Freedom And Iraqi Freedom, Brian G. Hobbs Mar 2005

Barriers To Electronic Records Management (Erm): An Exploratory Case Study Investigating Erm In The Deployed Environment During Operations Enduring Freedom And Iraqi Freedom, Brian G. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate and government organizations can use electronic records as an important strategic resource, if the records are managed properly. In addition to meeting legal requirements, electronic records can play a vital role in the management and operation of an organization's activities. Corporate America is facing challenges in managing electronic records, and so too is the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The deployed environment is particularly problematic for electronic records management (ERM). This research, thus, investigates ERM in the deployed environment to identify and characterize the barriers faced by USAF personnel who deployed to locations supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. …

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Pick-Up And Delivery: A Comparison Of Functional Alignments And The Impact On Customer Service And Vehicle Operator Utilization, Shawn K. Booher Mar 2005

Pick-Up And Delivery: A Comparison Of Functional Alignments And The Impact On Customer Service And Vehicle Operator Utilization, Shawn K. Booher

Theses and Dissertations

The Chief of Staff Logistics Review of 1999 examined a multitude of process issues and their resulting impact on organizational structure. A resulting initiative was to transition the pick-up and delivery function from the Material Management flight (LGRM) to the Vehicle Operations section (LGRVO). The motivation of this initiative, more specifically referred to as Supply/Transportation Reengineering, was to streamline similar processes, and to effectively and efficiently utilize resources. The goal of this transition was to use fewer people and resources to provide pick-up and delivery service to wing customers with minimal adverse impact to customer service and to improve overall …

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Air Force Jp-8 Fuel Distribution System: A Statistical Analysis To Determine Where And When To Sample, Eric J. Heath Mar 2005

Air Force Jp-8 Fuel Distribution System: A Statistical Analysis To Determine Where And When To Sample, Eric J. Heath

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Petroleum Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio collects JP-8 sampling data, but this data doesn't undergo analysis to determine the health of the base-level JP-8 fuel distribution system. Commanders possess no known confidence level when assessing base-level fuel health. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess Air Force base-level fuel sampling data to determine the base-level sampling point that ensures a quality and healthy product at the aircraft. Also, this research seeks to identify how often correlation sampling should take place. Sample test pass rates are analyzed from three locations, receipt, storage, and vehicles/aircraft, …

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A Multiple-Case Analysis Of Lean Six Sigma Deployment And Implementation Strategies, Peter M. O'Rourke Mar 2005

A Multiple-Case Analysis Of Lean Six Sigma Deployment And Implementation Strategies, Peter M. O'Rourke

Theses and Dissertations

Lean and Six Sigma are recent developments in continuous improvement methodology that have been popularized by several high-profile companies. The success and complementary nature of these methodologies has led to their combination into a single methodology, commonly called Lean Six Sigma or Lean Sigma. Although there is considerable literature available and many consultants involved with Lean Six Sigma, very little published research addresses the practical experiences of companies that have implemented Lean Six Sigma. The research question for this research is: How and why are certain private sector implementations of Lean Six Sigma successful or unsuccessful? The investigative questions further …

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A Case Study Of The Degree Of Collaboration Between Various Levels In The Reparable Chain In The United States Air Force, Robert A. Lee Mar 2005

A Case Study Of The Degree Of Collaboration Between Various Levels In The Reparable Chain In The United States Air Force, Robert A. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment and other logistics processes were developed in the commercial sector to reduce total system costs of production while simultaneously providing reduction in inventory levels, improved customer service levels, greater flexibility in scheduling, greater velocity of inventory through the pipeline, and, as a result, greater profitability (Ploos van Amstel, 1990:1). Many companies including Wal-Mart, Motorola, Target, Johnson & Johnson, and Kellogg's, just to name a few, have seen great achievements since implementing CPFR processes. Can these processes be applied to the Air Force supply chain? This thesis intends to examine the flows and relationships to identify …

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Using Depot Inventory Position To Determine Transportation Mode Of Retrograde Reparable Assets, Edward C. Snow Jr. Mar 2005

Using Depot Inventory Position To Determine Transportation Mode Of Retrograde Reparable Assets, Edward C. Snow Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Air Force logistics policies direct the "expedited evacuation of repairables to the source of repair", in an effort to allow smaller inventories. Transportation Mode selection is based only on the asset itself. This focus works well when shipping assets out from the depot to a base. When a base ships an asset back to the depot however, the priority of the asset may not be the best way to select the transportation mode. The quantity of the assets at the depot may indicate that fast transportation is unnecessary. The depot may already have enough serviceable assets to meet demand or …

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Informal Influences In The Process Of Idiq Contractor Selection For Task Award, Jason E. Blevins Mar 2005

Informal Influences In The Process Of Idiq Contractor Selection For Task Award, Jason E. Blevins

Theses and Dissertations

The selection of a contractor for task award using the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract often involves dynamics and relationships that are difficult to understand. There are unanswered questions that relate to how government agents define "best value" to the government. The selection decisions often differ between government agents. The government streamlined the acquisition process by creating the multiple award IDIQ contract. Government agents are relied upon to make sound business judgments in determining which contractor represents the best value to the government. Informal influences can impact the determination of the final selection of a contractor. This thesis attempts …

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Job Embeddedness: A Construct Of Organizational And Community Attachment Utilized To Asses Voluntary Turnover, Richard E. A. Fletcher Iii Mar 2005

Job Embeddedness: A Construct Of Organizational And Community Attachment Utilized To Asses Voluntary Turnover, Richard E. A. Fletcher Iii

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to further refine and evaluate the extent to which job embeddedness influences voluntary turnover. Specifically, this thesis sought to determine the effectiveness of job embeddedness in explaining additional incremental variance in intent to leave, above what is usually accounted for with traditional attitudinal variables. Additionally, the individual effects of tenure, education level, organizational rank, and pay were evaluated to determine if they moderated the effects of job embeddedness on a person's level of intent to leave.

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A Historical Context Analysis Of Changes In Content Management Ideology, William Lee Jr. Mar 2005

A Historical Context Analysis Of Changes In Content Management Ideology, William Lee Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Digital content has grown continually over the past years, yet acceptance of a common definition of what is "content management" still generates debates in IS communities. This research will be a qualitative study using a combined approach of historical and context analysis of literary artifacts for drawing inferences to explore the evolutionary changes in content management ideology. Using a seven-step process, a specific structure is designed with a systematic approach to encounter the phenomena being researched and present the evidence of the results. Performing an analysis on the evolution of content management from a historical perspective will benefit researchers and …

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Technology Acceptance And Use In A Knowledge Management Support System: An Exploratory Case Study Of Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, John P. Tate Mar 2005

Technology Acceptance And Use In A Knowledge Management Support System: An Exploratory Case Study Of Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, John P. Tate

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past five to seven years, the United States Air Force has begun to employ online Communities of Practice (CoP) as a means to collaborate virtually. During this time, there have been several studies of these online communities to better understand their use, as well as their lack of use. The primary goal of this research is to apply the theories of Davis' (1989) technology acceptance model to identify the factors that affect the acceptance and use of CoPs. These findings are then used to provide suggestions on how to improve the acceptance and use of CoPs for CoP …

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Initiating An Entrepreneurial Mindset In The Department Of Defense (Dod): Testing A Comprehensive Model, Gretchen R. Rhoads Mar 2005

Initiating An Entrepreneurial Mindset In The Department Of Defense (Dod): Testing A Comprehensive Model, Gretchen R. Rhoads

Theses and Dissertations

Transformation will become vital as senior military leaders prepare to fight tomorrow's battles. The pervasiveness of the entrepreneurial mind set within Department of Defense (DoD) organizations and the ability of senior leaders to foster that mind set will be vital. This research effort tested an integrated model of the entrepreneurial mind set and produced a framework that senior leaders can implement to ignite their organizations' innovative potential and ability to transform. The research used a questionnaire to gather data regarding three entrepreneurial mind set antecedents -- individual characteristics, process, and context -- to determine the level of influence each has …

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Hybrid Stochastic Models For Remaining Lifetime Prognosis, Steven M. Cox Aug 2004

Hybrid Stochastic Models For Remaining Lifetime Prognosis, Steven M. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force is developing its next generation aircraft and is seeking to reduce the risk of catastrophic failures, maintenance activities, and the logistics footprint while improving its sortie generation rate through a process called autonomic logistics. Vital to the successful implementation of this process is remaining lifetime prognosis of critical aircraft components. Complicating this problem is the absence of failure time information; however, sensors located on the aircraft are providing degradation measures. This research has provided a method to address at least a portion of this problem by uniting analytical lifetime distribution models with environment and/or degradation …

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Small Business Participation In Air Force Procurement: Participation Trends And The Effect Of Acquisition Reform Initiatives On Air Force Procurement Via Selected Contract Types In Selected Product Categories, Douglas E. Leedy Jun 2004

Small Business Participation In Air Force Procurement: Participation Trends And The Effect Of Acquisition Reform Initiatives On Air Force Procurement Via Selected Contract Types In Selected Product Categories, Douglas E. Leedy

Theses and Dissertations

Small Businesses (SB) have been of recognized important to the Federal Government for many years. This thesis explores the role of SB contractors in Air Force (AF) procurement and the effects of recent acquisition reform (AR) initiatives on their involvement, including their method of involvement (contract type), product areas in which they participate, and possible new areas of measurement. This thesis answers the research and investigative questions in three ways. First, it explores the correlation of AR initiatives to SB participation as a whole, via selected contract types, and in selected product categories via causal regression models. Next, it identifies …

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An Update On Analyzing Differences Between Public And Private Sector Information Resource Management: Strategic Information Challenges And Critical Technologies, James R. Orlovsky Jun 2004

An Update On Analyzing Differences Between Public And Private Sector Information Resource Management: Strategic Information Challenges And Critical Technologies, James R. Orlovsky

Theses and Dissertations

Change is a constant within our contemporary IRM environment. The rapid development of information and communication technologies has been the most predominant among the many agents of change that are forcing a reevaluation of the role of the IRM professional. Few studies to date have compared public and private sector CIO perceptions concerning the IRM challenges and critical technologies faced by their organization. An earlier study concluded that the sectors CIOs do perceive to be faced with many of the same challenges and also view many of the same technologies as critical to the organization's operations. A limiting factor identified …

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Empowering Marine Corps System Administrators: Taxonomy Of Training, Brian K. Hamilton Mar 2004

Empowering Marine Corps System Administrators: Taxonomy Of Training, Brian K. Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

Organizations cannot protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information in today's highly networked systems environment without ensuring that System Administrators are properly trained and meet a minimum standard that is enforced enterprise-wide. Only with this ubiquitous benchmark training, will the System Administrators roles and responsibilities become synchronous to achieving Defense in Depth in the IT realm. The goal of this research is to analyze Marine Corps training methods to identify viable solutions that will produce consistent skill sets and meet requirements set forth in mandates from DoD.

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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 Mar 2004

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 …

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A Performance Evaluation Of A Lean Reparable Pipeline In Various Demand Environments, Melvin E. Maxwell Jr. Mar 2004

A Performance Evaluation Of A Lean Reparable Pipeline In Various Demand Environments, Melvin E. Maxwell Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Lean production and logistics processes were developed in the commercial sector to reduce total system costs of production while simultaneously providing high levels of customer service, increased productivity, and increased worker utilization, In 1993, the Air Force instituted the Lean Logistics program, which successfully implemented some commercial lean principles, enabling a reduction in the total reparable asset material requirement for the Air Force reparable asset pipeline. The Air Force is attempting to further implement lean production principles into depot repair in hopes of further enhancing reparable asset pipeline cost and customer service performance. However, the failure of reparable assets, which …

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Determination Of The Trainability Of Deception Detection Cues, Christopher L. Ford Mar 2004

Determination Of The Trainability Of Deception Detection Cues, Christopher L. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force and the rest of the Department of Defense rely on valid information to make National Security decisions. The veracity of the information used to make those decisions can dramatically affect which course of action our military will take. Therefore, it is important that our leaders be able to recognize if they are being deceived. This study examines the results of training five categories of deception cues to 190 Air Force Officers. The officers were tested to determine their baseline deception detection abilities, then trained on the deception cues, Arousal, Emotion, Cognitive Effort, Communicator Tactics, and Memory Processes, …

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Analysis And Forecasting Of U.S. Navy Operating And Support (O&S) Costs For Rotary Aircraft, Christopher J. Wilkes Mar 2004

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 …

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Analysis Of Air Force Compliance With Executive Order 13149, John C. Kirkwood Mar 2004

Analysis Of Air Force Compliance With Executive Order 13149, John C. Kirkwood

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force must comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 13149: Greening The Government Through Federal Fleet and Transportation Efficiency. This order focuses on the reduction of petroleum consumption in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil and preserve the environment. Specifically, it directs federal agencies (such as the Air Force) to reduce fuel use in the vehicle fleet 20 percent between Fiscal Years (FY) 1999 and 2005. This thesis examines the Air Force's current alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) program and its evolution to determine how effective it is and how it should be adjusted to promote compliance with E.O. …

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An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald Mar 2004

An Exploratory Analysis Of Factors Affecting Participation In Air Force Knowledge Now Communities Of Practice, David C. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

As the AF continues to lose its knowledge base through retirements and downsizing, the need to get maximum use from the remaining knowledge base becomes increasingly important. In their efforts to help the Department of Defense and the Air Force Chief Information Officer (AFCIO) meet their knowledge management goals, Air Force Material Command (AFMC) has been working to implement the use of communities of practice. A primary goal of AFMC/DRW , the AF Knowledge Now program office, and the office of the AFCIO is to increase effectiveness and participation within communities of practice. The goal of this research is to …

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An Analysis Of Factors That Have Influenced The Evolution Of Information Assurance From World War I Through Vietnam To The Present, Kelvin B. Scott Mar 2004

An Analysis Of Factors That Have Influenced The Evolution Of Information Assurance From World War I Through Vietnam To The Present, Kelvin B. Scott

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an exploratory historical analysis of the factors that have influenced the evolution of military Information Assurance (IA) programs from World War I to the present. Although the term IA has recently been widely used throughout the Information Resource Management field (IRM), evidence indicates that information and information systems protection mechanisms were used during every U.S. Military conflict. This research proposes to increase the body of knowledge within the information systems management field by exploring the areas related to Information Assurance (IA) and the ultimate goal of U. S. Defensive Information Warfare. I found that significant events related …

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Purchasing And Supply Chain Management Costing: An Air Transport Perspective Derived Through Commercial Air Cargo Firms, Kurt Ettrich Mar 2004

Purchasing And Supply Chain Management Costing: An Air Transport Perspective Derived Through Commercial Air Cargo Firms, Kurt Ettrich

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has struggled to completely understand the costs associated with its operations. The issue of understanding cost is complex, involving many perspectives, methods and techniques. When examined from a broad standpoint, total supply chain costs can include a firm's costs plus upstream and downstream costs. This perspective takes vendors, suppliers and end customers into consideration. From this broad standpoint, the Air Force does not know its total supply chain cost. Since the Air Force's supply chain is too broad to be a focus of this study, a smaller segment was chosen for a closer look. Specifically, air cargo …

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