Can We Explain Cost Growth in Major Defense Acquisition Programs?

This question asked in this article is whether the shared intellectual property of the acquisition community includes an adequate theory of cost growth in major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs). This question is given concrete form by cost growth data for 123 MDAPs. These data are grouped into categories, which range from very small—negative, in fact—cost growth to cost growth in excess of 100%. Potential explanations for this broad range of cost growth considered are: the conventional wisdom about cost growth; a recent RAND study that closely examined cases at both ends of the distribution, along with some possible extensions of that study; and a recent model of the root causes of cost growth. The author argues that each of these falls short; in particular, it seems that the defense acquisition community at large does not have a good explanation of cost growth in the broad range of 30% to 100%.

Topical Review: Pathways toward cost-effective single-junction III-V solar cells

III-V semiconductors such as InP and GaAs are direct bandgap semiconductors with significantly higher absorption compared to silicon. The high absorption allows for the fabrication of thin/ultra-thin solar cells, which in turn permits for the realization of lightweight, flexible, and highly efficient solar cells that can be used in many applications where rigidity and weight are an issue, such as electric vehicles, the internet of things, space technologies, remote lighting, portable electronics, etc. However, their cost is significantly higher than silicon solar cells, making them restrictive for widespread applications. Nonetheless, they remain pivotal for the continuous development of photovoltaics. Therefore, there has been a continuous worldwide effort to reduce the cost of III-V solar cells substantially. This topical review summarises current research efforts in III-V growth and device fabrication to overcome the cost barriers of III-V solar cells. We start the review with a cost analysis of the current state-of-art III-V solar cells followed by a subsequent discussion on low-cost growth techniques, substrate reuse, and emerging device technologies. We conclude the review emphasizing that to substantially reduce the cost-related challenges of III-V photovoltaics, low-cost growth technologies need to be combined synergistically with new substrate reuse techniques and innovative device designs.

Exploring Performance in Air Force Science and Technology Programs

Science and technology (S&T) programs serve an important function in the defense acquisition process as the initial phase leading to discovery and development of warfighting technology. The results of these programs impact the larger major defense acquisition programs, which integrate the technologies in subsequent phases of the life cycle. Despite this important role, little prior research has examined the performance of S&T programs. In this study, the authors investigate the impact of technological maturation as a critical success factor in Air Force S&T programs. The results suggest that S&T programs with mature technologies are more likely to experience above average cost growth and larger contract values while less likely to experience schedule growth. Additionally, the authors find the partnership method between the government and contractor matters for both technological maturation and schedule growth. Lastly, the nature of the S&T program is important, with aerospace programs more likely to technologically mature than human systems programs.

Exploring Performance in Air Force Science and Technology Programs

Science and technology (S&T) programs serve an important function in the defense acquisition process as the initial phase leading to discovery and development of warfighting technology. The results of these programs impact the larger Major Defense Acquisition Programs, which integrate the technologies in subsequent phases of the life cycle. Despite this important role, little prior research has examined the performance of S&T programs. In this study, the authors investigate the impact of technological maturation as a critical success factor in Air Force S&T programs. The results suggest that S&T programs with mature technologies are more likely to experience above average cost growth and larger contract values while less likely to experience schedule growth. Additionally, the authors find the partnership method between the government and contractor matters for both technological maturation and schedule growth. Lastly, the nature of the S&T program is important, with aerospace programs more likely to technologically mature than human systems programs.

A Mixed-Method Analysis of Schedule and Cost Growth in Defense Acquisition Programs

Cost and schedule overruns are common in the procurement of large-scale defense acquisition programs. Current work focuses on identifying the root causes of cost growth and schedule delays in the defense acquisition programs. There is need for a mix of quantitative and qualitative analysis of cost and schedule overruns which takes into account program factor such as, technology maturity, design maturity, initial acquisition time, and program complexity. Such analysis requires an easy to access database for program-specific data about how an acquisition programs’ technical and financial characteristics vary over the time. To fulfill this need, the objective of this paper is twofold: (i) to develop a database of major US defense weapons programs which includes details of the technical and financial characteristics and how they vary over time, and (ii) to test various hypotheses about the interdependence of such characteristics using the collected data. To achieve the objective, we use a mixed-method analysis on schedule and cost growth data available in the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO’s) defense acquisitions annual assessments during the period 2003–2017. We extracted both analytical and textual data from original reports into Excel files and further created an easy to access database accessible from a Python environment. The analysis reveals that technology immaturity is the major driver of cost and schedule growth during the early stages of the acquisition programs while technical inefficiencies drive cost overruns and schedule delays during the later stages. Further, we find that the acquisition programs with longer initial length do not necessarily have higher greater cost growth. The dataset and the results provide a useful starting point for the research community for modeling cost and schedule overruns, and for practitioners to inform their systems acquisition processes.

Analysis of the financing activities of European football leagues

In a market economy, effective financial management is one of the most important aspects of the functioning of any company, which plays a connecting role between various areas of its activities and determines the company’s position on the market, its competitiveness, prospects for sustainable development and cost growth. In this context, the assessment of the economic efficiency of sports organizations is also relevant, due to the high social significance of the sports industry and its huge popularity among the population. The study selected leagues that use different approaches to the formation and distribution of financial resources in their activities. Thus, the subject of this research is the existing mechanisms for financing the activities of sports subjects. The comparative report of UEFA on club licensing for pre-COVID-19 period was used as an analytical basis for the study. The results obtained during the study showed that with an effective approach to the process of managing financial and economic activities, the professional sports industry can be considered as a promising tool that can generate a significant material and non-material effect on various spheres of public activity, which affects the dynamic economic growth of the industry, as evidenced, in particular, by the performance index of the football leagues of Europe calculated in the work, showing the stable growth of the industry in the pre-COVID-19 period.

Proactive Cost Management Model for Building Projects

Aim: Scholars are persistent in calling for proactive management of construction characteristics. Lack of a feasible model continues to daunt the cost objective in the sector. A framework was developed to guide this process of developing a feasible one. This research complements the recommendation aimed at developing a proactive cost management model for building projects. Study Design: a set of prototyped residential building design was obtained and bill of quantities prepared. Historical cost data collated through secondary sources for ten years was used to generate unit rates and elemental cost history of the prototyped design. The cost of the prototype design was estimated forty times and the yearly incremental or growth rate of each element computed. Study Area: Relevant data was collated in Nigeria. Cost data was extracted from the market research reports of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyor’s quarterly publications. Methodology: the research is underpinned on three constructs that, with best practice, proper knowledge management and predictions the proactive cost management can be attained. Geometric mean was used to compute the cost growth rates and a mathematical forecasting model using incremental rate principle developed. Best Practice Modules and Lessons Learned Mechanism subsystems were also created. Results: The three subsystems synthesised into the desired proactive cost management model predicts the likelihood of flawed activity and the culpability of associated stakeholder. The mathematical model forecast true cost growth of building elements at various milestone for possible contingency plan. There’s no significant difference between estimates and forecast values generated by the model, and the strength of the linear relationship is strong at 0.929571. Conclusion: This is a feasible tool for stakeholders’ proactive cost management. Stakeholders in building contracts can use the model from inception to finish. Project can better be managed and cost efficacy assured.