"Acquisition Next: A Playbook to Break Industrial Age Shackles,".

• Author: Mason, George

* This study--a year in the making--takes on the Pentagon's antiquated acquisition processes, which are inadequate for today's software-based defense systems, the report states.

The good news: after interviewing some 75 professionals, evidence shows that a paradigm shift in the way defense systems are developed and acquired is "already underway," the report said.

Widespread adoption of the study's recommendations "will help drive culture change across the acquisition community," the document stated.

Some of the suggestions include: doing away with market research and experimentations that are based on fixed requirements; continually engaging with industry to identify technologies and vendors that can increase program value; and separate elements of a program's architecture and use traditional acquisition processes with slow cycle times, and modular contracts for faster moving applications.

There are more specific recommendations for software acquisitions.

None of the suggestions require new legislative authorities or regulations, the report noted.

"All that is required is top-cover from leadership and support all up and down the chain of command," it said.--Stew Magnuson

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