Investigation of Integrated Weapon System Management Implementation Issues

摘要

This thesis investigated Integrated Weapon System Management implementationissues. Five functional areas were examined: Contracting, Engineering, Financial management, Program Management, and Test Management. Data was collected through interviews. The most significant lessons learned were to establish a direct chain of command and to use TQM principles. Program business practices were changed by increasing Product Center/ALC interaction and implementing a single joint CCB. Program personnel obtained useful guidance from other IWSM programs and from the information products distributed by HQ AFMC. Communication improvements included increased teleconference capability and establishment of a Local Area Network. Cultural differences between centers, insufficient initial guidance, and rice bowl mentalities were the most significant hurdles encountered. An examination of specific functional areas revealed that: Contracting officers may expect opportunities to improve contract management; financial managers need to provide increased funding visibility to the single manager; and program managers should expect to change their approach to system life-cycle management.... Air Force Materiel Command/Merger, Integrated weapon system management, IWSM, Single manager, Air Force systems command, Air Force logistics command.