A Management Analysis and Structural Model of the Defense Acquisition System

Since the 1950's there has been a nearly continuous call for far- reaching reforms in the way that the United States' defense establishment develops, produces and contracts for major weapon systems. The basis for this pressure to reform comes from the public's perception of wasteful defense spending, the rapidly rising costs of the weapons which are procured, and a shrinking share of the GNP being allocated to defense, due mainly to an unwillingness to fund larger defense budgets at the expense of expanding social programs. Contributing to public's perception that the defense industrial complex is unable to efficiently manage defense resources are the well publicized instances of spare parts overpricing, weapon program cost overruns and delays, and the operational deficiencies of some of the weapon systems which are procured.