Accession Number:

ADA188561

Title:

Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Military Software

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD WASHINGTON DC

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1987-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

84.0

Abstract:

Current DoD initiatives in software technology and methodology include the Ada effort, the STARS program, DARPAs Strategic Computing Initiative, the Software Engineering Institute, and a planned program in the Strategic Defense Initiative. These five initiatives are uncoordinated. We recommend that the Undersecretary of Defense Acquisition establish a formal program coordination mechanism for them. The big problems are not technical. In spite of the substantial technical development needed in requirements-setting, metrics and measures, tools, etc., the Task Force is convinced that todays major problems with military software development are not technical problems, but management problems. Hence we call for no new initiatives in the development of the technology, some modest shift of focus in the technology efforts underway, but major re-examination and change of attitudes, policies, and practices concerning software acquisition.

Descriptors:

• *COMPUTER PROGRAMS
• *MILITARY APPLICATIONS
• MILITARY STRATEGY
• SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
• POLICIES
• ACQUISITION
• MANAGEMENT
• ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• TASK FORCES

Subject Categories:

• Computer Programming and Software

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE