MSIAC Journal: Special DMSC Issue, May 2007. Dismantling the Stovepipes. Improving M&S through the Sharing to Tools, Data, and Services

摘要

Welcome to a special themed edition of the MSIAC Journal that underscores the DoD Modeling and Simulation Conference theme of 'taking the power of Modeling and Simulation to the Warfighter' through a selection of papers and articles addressing greater coordination, promoting information sharing, and highlighting key organizational concepts. The MSIAC Journal is published quarterly as a print and electronic compendium of technical papers from experts in the M&S field and serves as a forum for new ideas and emerging philosophies from the communities most enabled by Modeling and Simulation. The topic of this print edition is 'Dismantling the Stovepipes.' Here, we present some of the advantages of sharing tools, data, and services to enhance total force capabilities across DoD, other governmental agencies, academia, and industry through the exchange and promotion of M&S practices, new approaches to management within DoD M&S, and the creation and employment of more effective and efficient M&S capabilities. What do we mean by 'stovepipes,' and what are the advantages of 'dismantling the stovepipes'. The term stovepipes connotes single-purpose projects or designs that are little used and known outside the community they were developed in. Dismantling stovepipe systems clearly benefits M&S users in many ways. The first is through cost reduction, i.e, improving efficiencies by sharing M&S tools, data, and services across many programs and communities. Schedule could be shortened since re-use can lessen development time and improve efficiency. Risk could also be reduced because tools, data, and services have already been proven effective ('verified and validated') by tens, hundreds, and even thousands of other users. One big question with sharing tools, data, and services is if their performance will meet your needs.