兰德-Issues-with-Access-to-Acquisition-Data-and-Information-in-the-Department-of-Defense_-Doing-Data-Right-in-Weapon-System-Acquisition_79页_1mb

Summary of "Doing Data Right in Weapon System Acquisition"

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities in managing and accessing acquisition data within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). It highlights the importance of acquisition data in decisionmaking, management, and oversight of weapon-system acquisition programs and outlines strategies to improve the data environment to support these objectives.

Main Objectives

• Identify the sources and locations of acquisition data.
• Understand who has access to the data and who owns it.
• Explore how data can be improved for better decisionmaking.
• Recommend ways to enhance the acquisition data environment based on insights from both DoD and the commercial sector.

Key Information

Acquisition Data in the DoD

• Acquisition data are critical for managing and overseeing major weapon programs.
• They can be structured (e.g., in relational databases) or unstructured (e.g., free-form text).
• These data are collected for various statutory, regulatory, and policy reasons, and are often spread across multiple centralized and decentralized locations.
• The data spans a wide range of topics including:
  • Cost and schedule of weapon systems
  • Technical performance and cybersecurity
  • Contract and contractor performance
  • Program decision memoranda and testing reports
• These data are stored in 21 information systems across federal, OSD, and service levels, and are governed by different policies, security controls, and access procedures.

Commercial Sector Practices

• The commercial sector faces similar data management challenges and has adopted master data management (MDM) as a solution.
• MDM involves:
  • Standardized data governance
  • Tools for data quality and validation
  • Policies for data security and ownership
  • Integration of data across systems
• MDM can help improve data accuracy, reduce redundancy, and enhance decisionmaking.
• Alternatives like data warehouses and data lakes have limitations, such as lack of data quality control or the risk of data silos.

Current DoD Systems and Challenges

• The 21 systems reviewed include:
  • Federal-wide systems (e.g., SAM, FSRS, eSRS, USAspending.gov, FPDS-NG)
  • OSD-level systems (e.g., PBIS, DAMIR, AIR, EVM-CR, KM/DS, URED)
  • Service-level systems (e.g., Army ACQBIZ, Air Force SMART, Navy RDAIS)
• These systems support a variety of information requirements as outlined in DoDI 5000.02.
• Strengths of the current systems include:
  • Centralized storage and standardization
  • Electronic data entry with validation controls
  • Analysis features added to support decisionmaking
  • Classification support for sensitive data
• Challenges include:
  • Difficulty in navigation and understanding of systems
  • Inconsistent data quality and update mechanisms
  • Access control and security issues
  • Siloed data collection and disparate formats

Key Recommendations

To improve the acquisition data environment, the report recommends:

1. Formalize a data governance function:

   • Establish a centralized governance structure to monitor and enforce data usage.
   • Align with MDM practices used in the commercial sector.

2. Improve data quality and analytic value:

   • Continue and expand data verification and validation processes.
   • Require user and data entry guides and data dictionaries for all new systems.
   • Develop and update plans and costs for continuous data improvement.

3. Enhance analytical capabilities:

   • Collect both structured and unstructured data.
   • Improve utilization of unstructured data through better tools and expertise.
   • Promote structured data formats for more standardization and easier analysis.

4. Develop and train workers:

   • Ensure the workforce is educated and trained in using and improving acquisition data.
   • Foster internal capabilities for data analysis and management.

Conclusion

Acquisition data are essential for the effective management and oversight of DoD weapon systems. While the current data environment has strengths, including centralized storage and electronic data entry, it also faces significant challenges such as data silos, inconsistent quality, and security concerns. By adopting best practices from the commercial sector, particularly MDM, and implementing the recommended improvements, the DoD can enhance its data management capabilities, support better decisionmaking, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its acquisition processes.