A Systems Approach to the Transition of Emergent Technologies into Operational Systems - Herding the Cats, the Road to Euphoria and Planning for Success

摘要

The prosecution of the National Security Agency's mission has evolved from the relatively static, industrial age, Cold War communications environment to the ubiquitous, high speed, and multi-functional technologies of today's information age. In an Agency whose success depends on acquiring and deploying the latest technologies for collecting and protecting information, a system engineering approach is mandated to successfully transition and manage the complexity of new technologies. Using such a systems approach, this paper proposes a model and a process for technology transition. The development of the technology transition model is based upon NSA's need to establish a repeatable, reliable and predictable technology transition process at an enterprise level. The model is established using a systems view, is based on the principles of systems life cycle planning, a business case, and critical decision points for any technology transition activity. The latter part of the paper demonstrates how the principles of Portfolio Management can be used in conjunction with the technology transition model to enable strategic systems planning, ensure technology readiness, and guarantee a focus on technology relevance and feasibility. Effective methods, such as the one proposed in this paper, for the transition and infusion of new technologies into mission will enable NSA to maintain its preeminence in a global environment of rapid technology change.