Author: Christopher Paul

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780833039033

In the wake of the failure of the Joint Simulation System (JSIMS), the Department of Defense (DoD) sought improvements to its approach to buying simulations training through a process called the Training Capabilities Analysis of Alternatives (TC AoA). The DoD has decided to move forward with a prototype of one alternative developed as part of this process an innovative business model intended to align the financial incentives of industry participants with positive training and technology development outcomes. Known as Alternative #4 (referred to hereafter as Alt#4), the model proposes to turn what has traditionally been the acquisition of training simulators into a service acquisition (the acquisition of training) with a private sector tool vendor marketplace to support it. RAND was asked by the offices of the Under Secretaries of Defense (OUSD) for Personnel and Readiness (P & R) and Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT & L), and the Joint Staff Operational Plans and Joint Forces Development Directorate (J7), to produce an implementation and evaluation plan for a prototype of this alternative. This report responds to that request. It presents the Alt#4 business model, compares it with other approaches for buying simulations and simulation training, reviews economic theories relevant to the model, and provides a detailed implementation and evaluation plan for a prototype. This report should be of interest to those participating in, or charged with carrying out, the prototype of Alt#4. The analysis should also be interesting to those interested in innovative approaches to training acquisition. Moreover, the success or failure of the approach will be of general interest to the executive and legislative branches and to commercial companies as an evaluated approach to improved acquisition. No special technical expertise is required to understand the material.