Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM)

Paper Summary:

This paper critically assesses the early Phase II in the joint direct attack munitions (JDAM) program, as presented in a case study.
the paper evaluates the transformation decisions, strategies and the processes and techniques the government and industry leaders used to implement acquisition reform. The primary issues identified in the case by the paper were the need to deliver the JDAM initiative within the cost estimates by implementing more streamlined administrative procedures for awarding defense contracts and the way in which they are overseen during their development.

Table of Contents:
General Impressions of the Case
Who
What
Where
Why
How
Primary Protagonists
Their Dilemmas and Success Issues
Their Assumptions and Decisions
Your Assumptions
The Primary Issues
Your Recommendations for Action
Important Events
Time Elapsed during the Events Described
The Players
Their Backgrounds
Their Motivations
Their Attitudes towards Other Characters and Events
The Organization and the Reporting Relationships
Influence over Whom
The Cultural Overtones
Commercial Items
Cost as an Independent Variable
Use of Integrated Product/Process Teams
Earned Value Management
Risk Analysis and Management
Technical Performance Measurement
Price-Based Costing

From the Paper:

"The personnel identified in the case study as being part of the civilian component of the development teams at McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Martin generally had extensive request for proposal preparation experience as well as longstanding relationships with their governmental counterparts. In addition, many had extensive experience in defense-related initiatives in the past that had some concomitant commercial applications but JDAM represented the first military-only application for both teams."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Frame, J. D. (2003). Managing projects in organizations: How to make the best use of time, techniques, and people. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
• Ingols, C. & Brem, L. (1998, July). Implementing acquisition reform: A case study on Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Fort Belvoir, VA: Defense Systems College Management.
• Lorell, M., Lowell, J., Kennedy, M. & Levaux, H. (2000). Cheaper, faster, better? Commercial approaches to weapons acquisition. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.

More papers on Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM):

• Case Study # 116274 : "Factors Influencing Success or Failures of Joint Ventures"
• Analytical Essay # 123982 : "Financial Analysis Joint Venture"
• Essay # 71370 : "Temporomandibular Joint Disorder "

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