Cost Overruns in Major Weapon Systems: Current Dimensions of a Longstanding Problem.

摘要

Cost overruns continue to plague the weapon systems acquisition process, despite repeated efforts over the last twenty years to alleviate the problem. This paper reviews the initiatives of the Reagan Administration to control cost overruns during the last 2-1/2 years and the actions taken by the Congress to strengthen its oversight role Particular attention is directed at the critical need to enhance management incentive and accountability at all levels of the acquisition process. If recently instituted reforms in the Department of Defense fail to control cost overruns, pressure may grow for a more sweeping and radical approach. Serious consideration, in such an event, might even be given to removing responsibility for weapons acquisition management from the military services and assigning it to a civilian-operated supply agency.