Acquisition Reform as Performance Art: Re-forming Acquisition Reform

Abstract : Defense acquisition outcomes are the result of a complex combination of actions and inactions by members of Congress, the military Services, and the defense industry. Collectively, these elements comprise a major part of what one might call the defense acquisition system. Yet acquisition reforms, when implemented, tend to focus narrowly on changing the internal acquisition processes of the military Services. This approach has failed to produce substantial improvements. If we are to achieve significant improvements, acquisition reforms should address the broader defense acquisition system. Simply modifying the militarys acquisition processes is inadequate to the task of generating actual improvements. It is time to consider seriously the prospect of re-forming acquisition reform.