Rigidity is a consequence of central planning
With centralization, one set of views plays a greater role in decision-making, and dissenting views play lesser roles. In other words, there are fewer checks […]
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Who should make multi-billion dollar decisions?
Part of the reason for “programming” the budget was to give decision-makers at the top the ability not only to decide on how much money […]
Panel discussion on maximizing defense innovation
In this episode of Acquisition Talk, we’ll listen in on a panel discussion hosted by the Lincoln Network that focuses on defense acquisition, called, “From […]
The more things change, acquisition reform remains the same
History offers little to suggest that today’s acquisition reform will succeed where its predecessor efforts failed… Behavioral change is needed to effect any transformation. Acquisition […]
Why the zero-based budget is not effective
Following in the steps of the Army, which did a “night court” deep-dive look at its budget to identify about $25 billion in savings to apply towards […]
Rise of centralization post-WWII
To one extent or another, each of the technical services carried out research and development (including test and evaluation), procurement, production, supply, and even maintenance […]
Only the highly efficient can burden inefficient processes
“It is a good thing that we are a rich country, because poorer countries just could not afford to waste this kind of money,” the […]
The market as a discovery procedure
They had a healthfully vague understanding that the dynamic competition which is always at work in free markets. It continually inspires market movements, movements in […]
What is the slogan for acquisition reform?
At the Air Force “Spark Tank” innovation award — presumably titled after CNBC’s Shark Tank show — Mark Cuban asks a young innovative airman why […]
The issue of centralized control in defense budgeting
In assessing change many observers are inclined to stress the more dramatic shifts in policy or even the stated goals of policy. They are perhaps […]
To End the Reform Pendulum, Fix the Budget
After a 2009 law increased centralization of defense acquisition decisions, reform began to swing in the other direction starting around 2015. The new emphasis is […]
Rickover slams the Laird/Packard Reforms
In my opinion the present situation in this regard is worse than I have ever seen it. Further, I predict that the way the present bureaucracy would implement your [Packard’s] proposed directive will make matters still worse.