A Normative Methodology for Research & Development Alignment and Decision-Making in the Arctic

Authors

  • Aaron Duhart
  • Sean Eckert
  • Sarah Guzzo
  • Brooks Hosea
  • Lauren Stovar
  • James Schreiner

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2022v10i2.pp115-120

Keywords:

Arctic Research and Development, Project Portfolio, Decision Making and Analysis, Decision Analysis

Abstract

ERDC’s current portfolio development process introduces ill-defined and low technology readiness level (TRL) concepts before processing them through the USACE Project Portfolio Management (PFM) System to determine the list of projects for lab resourcing. This research will present a scalable decision model before the PFM, to ensure that projects are aligned with higher-level strategies and priorities. This would minimize wasted time and resources by the research community before Research and Development (R&D) projects are approved using the PFM. The multi-attribute decision aid coupled with a Kendall Tau analysis provides mechanisms to ensure alignment. The goal is to eliminate ideas that do not fall under the strategic objectives set by the White House and the Department of Defense and make sure all projects are aligned with these priorities. The model illustrates how the PFM misaligns with the more normative design created for ill-defined projects.

References

Berman, J. (2021, September 10). ERDC and the Arctic: R & D Solutions: ERDC Cold Regions Portfolio [PowerPoint slides]. U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory, ERDC.

Cabrera, D., Cabrera, L. (2015). Systems Thinking Made Simple: New hope for solving wicked problems. Ithaca, NY: Odyssean Press.

Engineer Research and Development Center. (2020). The Power of ERDC: ERDC 2020-2030 Strategy.

Lee, C. (2019, August). Arctic Strategy: Great Power Competition Extends to Arctic. National Defense, 104(789), 32+ https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A597912488/PPMI?u=west10360&sid=bookmark-PPMI&xid=4049ee37.

Long, Z. (2018). Arctic Governance: Challenges and Opportunities. Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep29880.

Parnell, G.S. Driscoll, P.J., Henderson, D.L. (2011). Decision making in systems engineering and management. John Wiley and Sons.

United States Army Corps of Engineers. (2021, August). “Top 10 USACE R&D Priorities.”

Published

2022-12-25

How to Cite

Duhart, A., Eckert, S., Guzzo, S., Hosea, B., Stovar, L., & Schreiner, J. (2022). A Normative Methodology for Research & Development Alignment and Decision-Making in the Arctic. Industrial and Systems Engineering Review, 10(2), 115-120. https://doi.org/10.37266/ISER.2022v10i2.pp115-120

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