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AbstractSensitivity analysis is usually difficult because to test exhaustively too many trials are required for the available time, money, or patience. This article discusses Latin hyper‐cube sampling and Taguchi methods, both of which are methods for experimental design that allow testing of all combinations of parameter values with a manageable number of trials. The procedures for use of the Taguchi methods are presented in some detail.

Improvised Explosive Device (IED) is a weapon of choice and is likely to remain a major component of the Global War on Terrorism. It is critical that gaps in knowledge transfer are quickly addressed in order to more effectively equip personnel to counter IED (C-IED) threat. Therefore, the military must analyze the current Knowledge Management (KM) programs in C-IED arena in order to maximize transfer of knowledge derived from experience and skill to staffs and finally to commanders. This study investigates the factors that influence effective use of KM in C-IED operations in the military. The study suggests that effective KM program is determined by the interaction of three organizational capabilities: knowledge infrastructure, knowledge process, and leadership orientation. A self-administrated survey was conducted on 300 NATO staff officers who have served in C-IED environments. A structural equation modeling technique was used to test a set of hypotheses using 118 completed responses collected from the survey. The results suggest that out of the 11 constructs within the model; two are rated as àttribute needs immediate attention (i.e. Culture and Traditional Leadership), eight are rated as àttribute needs further enhancement (i.e. Overall Organizational Capability, Knowledge Process, Knowledge Infrastructure, Acquisition, Transfer, Application, Structure and Transformational Leadership) and one is rated as àttribute runs satisfactorily (i.e. Technology). The results of this research have particular value to engineering management researchers and practitioners operating in military domains because it proposes, empirically tests and justifies a conceptual model that explains KM in C-IED operations in the military.

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights regarding the implementation of using Project Risk Management (PRM) and Decision Analysis (DA) in managing projects for complex systems such as maritime vessels. The PRM approach apprehends many forms of risk both internal and external within a given project and assists the manager in determining the level of importance of each individual project phase and component to optimize project success. Ship Maintenance and Repair project decision-making requires that risk management and risk analysis techniques be applied in order to guide management in making better decisions to meet ship service life perspective. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to project management is used to identify the short term limitations of projects with respect to a product's life cycle. There are many tools and techniques to assist project managers in implementing optimal solutions, but published statistics indicate failures to meet schedules and/or budgets are still common. The methodology for reducing risk and for determining how much contingency to add to reduce residual risk to an acceptable level will be discussed herein. This paper contributes to a discussion of empirical investigation centered across the areas of Project Management, Decision-Making, Reliability Centered Maintenance and Condition-Based Management.

This study contributes to the literature by integrating agility in knowledge management (KM) operations, especially in military environments via major findings of (a) introducing a new approach to KM with integration of 'agility'; (b) articulating the application of an enhanced process of Agile Knowledge Management (AKM) across the military. The purpose of the study is to explore the conceptual background of agility in KM, re-conceptualize it and extend it to military applications with a special focus on counterinsurgency (COIN). An initial qualitative exploration of agility in KM was performed. Three different concepts and their interrelationships were analyzed: (a) KM, (b) agility in operations, and (c) military organizations in the COIN environment. Findings from this initial qualitative analysis were used to inductively redefine, re-conceptualize, and extend the concept of AKM, as well as, to compare and adapt the AKM concept to the military environment of COIN. An additional qualitative analysis was performed to validate the extended concept of AKM. While this study is mainly focused on AKM in a dynamic multinational and joint military environment of COIN, conclusions may be applicable in a broader context. The results of this research can be used by engineering managers and KM practitioners and academics with particular focus on the military environment as foundation for (a) further research and development in AKM (b) developing customized AKM education programs and (c) extending the concept of AKM and its application to other environments.

The best capabilities are usually achieved by having the latest technologies in defense systems. However, including the new, usually immature, technologies in a system design does not always easily result in achieving the capabilities at the right level, at an affordable cost, and in a timely manner. Many programs have suffered from immature technologies as cost overruns, late or no deliveries, and poor performance levels. Another impact of technology selection appears as obsolescence after the deployment of systems, or even before the deployment of the system. As the technologies of a system become obsolete, the cost of maintaining the system increases. Defense systems, which have longer sustainment life cycles, are more vulnerable to obsolescence of technologies. While obsolete technologies increase the cost of maintaining the military systems, they also impact the level of the superiority of the capabilities. In the current literature, several approaches have been proposed by different authors to address either the immature technology risk or the technology obsolescence risk. This study will make an effort to develop an approach which addresses the issue of technology selection for long life cycle defense systems that consider both the feasibility risk of immature technologies and obsolescence risk of technologies.