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Air Force Institute of Technology

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Articles 31 - 48 of 48

Full-Text Articles in Business Analytics

Calibration Of The Software Architecture Sizing And Estimation Tool (Saset), Carl D. Vegas Sep 1995

Calibration Of The Software Architecture Sizing And Estimation Tool (Saset), Carl D. Vegas

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to analyze the effect of calibration on the performance of the SASET computer software cost estimating model. Data used for input into the model were drawn from the most current USAF SMC Software Database (SWDB). Once all the records to be used for analysis were identified, the DBMS-Calibration tool (which is part of SASET) was used to perform regression analysis on the relationship between program size (measured in SLOC) and the effort required to develop the program (measured in man-months). Productivity information reported from this tool was then input into equations used to calculate the Productivity Calibration …

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A Calibration Of The Revic Software Cost Estimating Model, Betty G. Weber Sep 1995

A Calibration Of The Revic Software Cost Estimating Model, Betty G. Weber

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the change in performance resulting from calibration of the REVIC software cost model and whether calibration improved the model's ability to estimate software development costs. Three calibrations were conducted on two operating environments using the SMC database. The calibrations consisted of one coefficient only and two coefficient and exponent calibrations, using different procedures. Analysis of the goodness of fit" was accomplished using MRE, MMRE, RMS, RRMS, and the prediction test to measure the model's improvement in predicting ability. The Wilcoxon and Wilk-Shapiro tests were used to test for normality of the sample data. The author concluded that …

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Using Parametric Cost Models To Estimate Engineering And Installation Costs Of Selected Electronic Communications Systems, John L. Bosworth Ii, Ronald J. Wiechmann Sep 1994

Using Parametric Cost Models To Estimate Engineering And Installation Costs Of Selected Electronic Communications Systems, John L. Bosworth Ii, Ronald J. Wiechmann

Theses and Dissertations

This study developed a set of cost driver definitions for use by the Communications. Systems Center CSC, headquartered at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. CSC is responsible for the engineering and installation of a dozen types of ground-based electronic communication and navigation systems, ranging from mobile radio systems to base telephone switches and air traffic control systems. Under changes brought about by the implementation of the Defense Business Operating Fund DBOF, the Communications System Center is searching out new customers and new cost estimating methodologies to improve customer service. The definitions were used to gather historical data of equipment, engineering, and installation …

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A Study To Determine If Newly Developed Budget At Completion (Bac) Adjustment Factors Improve The Success Of Prevalent Index-Based Estimate At Completion (Eac) Techniques, Timothy L. Elkinton, Todd J. Gondeck Sep 1994

A Study To Determine If Newly Developed Budget At Completion (Bac) Adjustment Factors Improve The Success Of Prevalent Index-Based Estimate At Completion (Eac) Techniques, Timothy L. Elkinton, Todd J. Gondeck

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop Budget At Completion BAC adjustment factors BAFs which, when used in conjunction with existing Estimate At Completion EAC techniques improve the success of existing EAC techniques. These factors attempted to account for changing contract requirements which are certain to occur on DoD contracts. These changing requirements often result in a need to add scope and budget to a contract or can cause contract cost overruns requiring additional budget. Improving the success of these EAC techniques is increasingly important because of the budget cuts being experienced by the DoD in todays changing economic …

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An Automated Cost Uncertainty Program, Dale N. Fletcher Sep 1994

An Automated Cost Uncertainty Program, Dale N. Fletcher

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to develop a menu driven, computer program that implemented methodologies for cost uncertainty analysis. Cost uncertainties have been quantified using either simulation techniques or through heuristic means. Simulation techniques require time to run the required number of iterations. Current computer based heuristic methods do not check correlation matrices for consistency nor do they enable the analyst to perform queries. This research resulted in the development of an automated heuristic cost uncertainty program which alleviates the limitations of current computer programs. The program contains a file editor for creating and modifying data files, a cost …

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An Assessment Of Forecasting Methods: Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (Clssa) Investment Items, Jeffrey S. Grafton, Earl W. Sollmann Sep 1994

An Assessment Of Forecasting Methods: Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (Clssa) Investment Items, Jeffrey S. Grafton, Earl W. Sollmann

Theses and Dissertations

The United States (US) promotes collective security in the Free World via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. FMS customers prefer to acquire weapon system logistic support through FMS rather than by direct commercial vendor support. Ninety-seven percent of the follow-on logistics requirements are submitted via a special program called Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement CLSSA. CLSSA, while sound in theory, has been a poor performer. The USAF must modify the CLSSA program or risk losing future FMS to competing nations. Modifying CLSSA to utilize an automated forecasting process will greatly improve customer service. Efficient and timely logistic support is …

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Measuring Customer Satisfaction: Practices Of Leading Military And Commercial Service Organizations, Daniel M. Hodgkiss, Manuel F. Casipit Sep 1994

Measuring Customer Satisfaction: Practices Of Leading Military And Commercial Service Organizations, Daniel M. Hodgkiss, Manuel F. Casipit

Theses and Dissertations

This research effort studied the customer satisfaction programs of six quality award winning service organizations in the military and commercial sectors. The purpose of the study was to assess the applicability of a general set of guidelines on measuring customer satisfaction for service organizations. This study discusses customer satisfaction, the importance of measuring customer satisfaction, guidelines regarding customer satisfaction, and the common practices of award winning service organizations. This study found that the common practices among service organizations provide support for the establishment of a general set of guidelines for measuring customer satisfaction. Universally applicable guidelines are listed and situationally …

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Cost-Schedule Control Systems Criteria Interpretation Differences Between The Dod And Its Contractors, Brian E. Hoffmann Ii, Johnny Wilson Sep 1994

Cost-Schedule Control Systems Criteria Interpretation Differences Between The Dod And Its Contractors, Brian E. Hoffmann Ii, Johnny Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempted to identify the major interpretive differences of the Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria (C/SCSC) between Department of Defense DoD and contractor performance management professionals, and to understand why these differences occurred. As the study progressed, its focus shifted to an evaluation of the Interpretive Guide, an Air Force Institute of Technology AFIT published document used to assist in the understanding of the criteria elements. The objective of the evaluation was to determine if the Interpretive Guide’s explanations of the criteria elements were in consonance with the intent of the criteria and with current practice in the field of …

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Defective Pricing: An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Sustention Rates And Disposition Times, Tracey D. Kop Sep 1994

Defective Pricing: An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Sustention Rates And Disposition Times, Tracey D. Kop

Theses and Dissertations

Defective pricing occurs when contractors fail to disclose current, accurate, and complete cost or pricing data in their proposals. Failure to submit valid data entitles the government to a refund in the amount of overpayment. With the current backlog of overage defective pricing cases and the continuing decline in sustention rates, a better understanding of the factors affecting timely and successful recoupment of defective pricing funds is needed. This research identifies factors which significantly affect sustention rates and disposition times and presents models to predict both rates and times. Factors were identified through a literature review and interviews with defective …

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An Evaluation Of Department Of Defense Contractor's Cost Performance, John M. Pletcher, Jane C. Young Sep 1994

An Evaluation Of Department Of Defense Contractor's Cost Performance, John M. Pletcher, Jane C. Young

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the cause of cost overrun recoveries within Department of Defense DoD contracts. In this time of extremely limited congressional funding, it is crucial the DoD avoid cost overruns. Information provided to contracting officers and contractors which would help avoid cost overruns would prove extremely valuable to the DoD. This study attempts to address this problem in two ways determine the cause of overrun recoveries determine whether a statistical difference in cost and schedule performance exists among DoD contractors. Interviews, document reviews, and a two-sample t- test were used to analyze the contracts that recovered from early cost …

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Analysis Of The Effects Of Fixed Costs On Learning Curve Calculations, Charles B. Shea, Kenneth P. Thomson Sep 1994

Analysis Of The Effects Of Fixed Costs On Learning Curve Calculations, Charles B. Shea, Kenneth P. Thomson

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to analyze the effect of fixed costs on learning curve calculations. The research focused on two general research areas. The first area addressed the identification of current cost analysis practice for handling fixed costs in learning curve calculations. After identification of current practice, the unit learning curve models AXb ability to estimate total production run costs for a new production run when the slope was derived from both total cost and variable cost historical lot data was examined. Historical lot cost data was simulated for both the total cost and variable cost cases under …

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Information Requirements For The Air Force Institute Of Technology Under A Fee-For-Service Concept, Jerry A. Cole, Patricia C. Cruz Dec 1993

Information Requirements For The Air Force Institute Of Technology Under A Fee-For-Service Concept, Jerry A. Cole, Patricia C. Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the current shift in national defense strategy, the DoD is going to have to perform new roles and missions with major reductions in resources. One of the major initiatives committed to achieving savings is Corporate Information Management, a broad program designed to help the DoD operate more efficiently by application of successful private sector business practices and better application of information technology. To meet the challenge of operating in a business-like environment AFIT must be able to maximize its competitiveness to provide customers with the quality and types of services they desire. To accomplish this task, information technology …

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Plan For Implementation Of Total Quality Management In The Republic Of China Air Force, Meng-Chun Chao Dec 1993

Plan For Implementation Of Total Quality Management In The Republic Of China Air Force, Meng-Chun Chao

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to build a plan for implementation of Total Quality Management in the Republic of China Air Force. The primary TQM elements are reviewed through definitions, advantages, principles, tools and techniques, education and training, and continuous improvement. In order to establish a TQM plan, the related experience of quality improvement in the U.S. DOD are referenced. The characteristics of ROCAF related to TQM are analyzed and related culture issues are mentioned. The implementation plan includes four parts, top management orientation, TQM structure establishment, empowerment, and continuous improvement. A Chinese view of TQM continuous improvement models …

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Information Sharing Within The Coea Process, Constance S. Maginnis, Michael J. Monroe Dec 1993

Information Sharing Within The Coea Process, Constance S. Maginnis, Michael J. Monroe

Theses and Dissertations

In order to meet the challenges of a reduced work force and the changing roles and/or missions of the Air Force in particular, the Cost and Operational Effectiveness Analysis COEA is used in the decision-making of every phase of the acquisition process. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense OASD has mandated that COEAs are to be an integral part of the acquisition process. The COEA information gathering or sharing process is not well defined. Areas within the COEA process affected are the coordination of common elements of information required, the data collection, and the generation of possible solutions. …

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Business Process Improvement Applied To Written Temporary Duty Travel Orders Within The United States Air Force, Philip W. Mcdowell, David W. Morgan Dec 1993

Business Process Improvement Applied To Written Temporary Duty Travel Orders Within The United States Air Force, Philip W. Mcdowell, David W. Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the process currently endemic to the activity of producing written TDY orders. Business Process Improvement BPI methodology using IDEF ICAM Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing Definition and Activity Based Costing methods were used for this study. The objectives of the written TDY order activity were determined as identifying the travelers and verifying authenticity of the travel requirement and subsequent entitlements. Processing the TDY information, generating the TDY order, and processing the TDY order showed activities that add no value or limited value for either the traveler or the government. The activity costs incurred to produce a written TDY …

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Is Nipars Working As Advertised? An Analysis Of Nipars Program Customer Service, Peter F. De Kam, Dorothy J. Tribble Sep 1992

Is Nipars Working As Advertised? An Analysis Of Nipars Program Customer Service, Peter F. De Kam, Dorothy J. Tribble

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, Foreign Military Sales non-standard item support has been a labor-intensive, time-consuming process. Additionally, when forced to compete for USAF resources, the foreign customer's need is often subjugated to the higher priority active USAF requirements. These problems motivated the Air Force to initiate a program to streamline procedures for the procurement of non- standard items. The program is the Nonstandard Item Parts Acquisition and Repair Support (NIPARS) program. The basic program concept is to move the management tasks for nonstandard items from USAF resources to a contractor in order to 'fix' the inefficiencies of the previous system. This thesis explores …

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An Evaluation Of Schedule Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Robert J. Hayes, Lawrence M. Miller Sep 1992

An Evaluation Of Schedule Metrics Used Within Aeronautical Systems Center, Robert J. Hayes, Lawrence M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on a selected group of schedule metrics in use at Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) acquisition program offices. Over 300 metrics were collected from the System Program Offices (SPOs). The metrics data were sorted into the categories of cost, schedule, and performance. In order to narrow the scope of the project, the team decided to focus on schedule metrics. Seven of the most common schedule metrics were selected for evaluation by a group of five experienced acquisition professionals. The group was asked to input the likely behaviors driven by the metrics being addressed by the study. Next, they …

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A Methodology For Project Selection Using Economic Analysis And The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jeffrey L. Battin, Thomas J. Bender Sep 1992

A Methodology For Project Selection Using Economic Analysis And The Analytic Hierarchy Process, Jeffrey L. Battin, Thomas J. Bender

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the applicability of a multiple criterion decision making method, known as the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) , to economic analysis decisions involving project selection. Through a survey of the literature and current practices, it was determined that qualitative criteria were not adequately represented in a typical economic analysis of projects. Several MCDM methods were examined and the AHP was found to be the most promising technique to rate projects on a ratio scale. Two types of project selection problems, those involving nonmutually exclusive alternatives and those involving mutually exclusive alternatives, were examined. It was determined that the …

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