Acquisition Strategy: Concept and Definition.

Data gathered from both interviews and a comprehensive literature survey indicate that no common understanding of acquisition strategy exists. This thesis attempts to provide the basis for such an understanding of the concept as applied to the acquisition of major weapon systems. Acquisition strategy is discussed in terms of a two-phased continuum consisting of formulation and implementation. An appreciation of the interrelationships between these two phases is believed to be the key to development of a frame-work for understanding past acquisition problems and dealing rationally with potential future problems. A new way of thinking about the acquisition of major weapon systems is described which links the processes of formulation and implementation.