N66-20937° # National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Allen L. Franta Washington, NASA, Apr. 1966 23 p refs The integration of a satellite or spacecraft system con- N66-13842* # Jet Propulsion Lab., Calif. Inst. of Tech., Pasa- SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IN SPACE EXPLORATION 1 Jun. 1965 55 p Proc. of the Space Technol. Seminar, Stan- (NASA-CR-68801) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 22A CONTENTS: 1. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IN SPACE EXPLORA- 2. SYSTEMS DESIGN W. Downhower p 15-31 (See 3. SYSTEMS ANALYSIS C. R. Gates 4. SPACE FLIGHT OPERATIONS M. Johnson p 39-43 5. PROGRAM ENGINEERING AND PROJECT PROB- N65-81945* California Univ., Berkeley. Space Sciences Lab. Reported is a study designed to analyze through the method and to identify the elements (the decision maker, the environ- N65-30564* # National Aeronautics and Space Administration, TIROS: THE SYSTEM AND ITS EVOLUTION (NASA-TM-X-56696) CFSTI: HC $2.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 228 Problems and factors which affected the development N65-15188* # Washington U., St. Louis, Mo. PRODUCT MANAGEMENT FOR DEFENSE/SPACE MAR- Murray L. Weidenbaum [1964] 10 p refs Presented to Am. (NASA-CR-60227) OTS: HC $1.00/MF $0.50 The defense-space market is an area of industry where. N65-11378* # National Aeronautics and Space Administration, MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SPACE EXPLORA- TION Robert C. Seamans, Jr. [1964] 9 p Presented to the Apollo The problem of uneconomic use of human and financial re- M2 CONTRACT MANAGEMENT N67-40192* Washington Univ., St. Louis, Mo. Economics Dept. Murray L. Weidenbaum Nov. 1967 29 prefs Its Working Paper No. 6713 (Grant NSG-342) (NASA-CR-89597) CSCL 05C The nature of competition in high technology government markets, notably the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is examined. In the absence of comprehensive information on individual competitions for government contacts, turnover data and concentration ratios are developed as a guide to the extent to which relatively few firms dominate this market area. Analyses of the size distribution of leading government contractors also help to illuminate the nature of the competitors for government contracts. On balance, statements so frequently made concerning the large degree of concentration and monopoly in government procurement are not supported by the data. Author N67-34722*# National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCUREMENTS: MARKETING PRACTICES AND PROBLEMS Leonard Rawicz Aug. 1966 29 p Presented at the 2d GSFC-Ind. Seminar, Greenbelt, Md., 10 Aug. 1966 (NASA-TM-X-60213) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.65 CSCL 05A In view of the need for a series of informal meetings between GSFC and industry to permit a free exchange of views on how NASA/GSFC procurement practices appear to industry, and how the general industry/Government relationship might be improved, a seminar program was established. Reviewed are discussions by panelists attending a second session of the seminar program which was entitled Becoming Acquainted with GSFC Requirements. The session was attended by three industry spokesmen representing major GSFC contractors and seven staff and line officials of GSFC. General discussions of the session were industry's marketing techniques relating to Government procurement of aerospace research and development; the Government's techniques to broaden the base of competition for contracts; and associated problems related to the source list system, government-industry briefings, and proposal timing and preparation. Specific topics discussed at this session are included in an appendix. Included are suggestions for improving competition for Government procurement. S.C.W. (NASA-CR-87404; Rept.-269-67) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.65 CSCL 05A Eighteen new business research and development (R&D) contracts were studied to determine the effects of considerations of follow-on potential on contract performance and to determine the impact of these factors on further contract acquisition. The three dimensions of contract performance (schedule, cost, and technical) correlated significantly with each other, and problems in each area correlated with the growth in contract costs. These contract problems were greatest in those cases where greatest potential R&D and production follow-on was expected at the time of original proposal preparation. This suggests that companies that anticipated large follow-ons wrote into their initial R&D proposals promises of unrealistic time schedules, cost estimates and technical performance goals. The general likelihood of R&D follow-ons was more accurately predictable at the time of original proposal preparation than is the likelihood of production follow-ons. However, except for the trivial cases in which it was clear that no follow-on potential exists, defense/space marketing men appeared unable to predict effectively the dollar magnitude of the resulting follow-on (NASA-CR-85971; Rept.-235-66) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.65 CSCL 05A Reviewed are initially the results of studies made of two Department of Defense field centers in which a total of 90 R&D contract awards above $100,000 in size were examined. The differences between winners and losers on the same sets of R&D competition are pointed out. To measure R&D marketing effectiveness, a series of comparative analyses were made of the strategies of nine companies located along the eastern seaboard ranging in size from several millions of dollars in sales to several hundred million dollars. A total of 121 competitions were studied. Analyzed were the numeric contract capture ratio, the dollar capture ratio, and the return on proposal investment. A major finding of the study is that the winners in competitive bidding are usually those companies that have done sufficient work with the government technical initiator of R&D procurement to be listed first or second on his suggested source list. Measures to improve the R&D marketing effectiveness include improved marketing analyses, more integrated funding and decision making, logic and rationality in binding, concentration on the early phases of the competition, and orientation of a company's engineering staff toward marketing. K.W N66-35961 # George Washington Univ., Washington, D. C. AN INVESTIGATION OF PROFIT RATES IN DEFENSE CONTRACTING Charles E. Bradley, Kate A. Arbogast. Patrick Ross Huntley, and Clayton C. Mc Cuistion [1966] 132 p refs (Grant Ns G-425) (NASA-CR-77868) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $1.00 CSCL 05C An examination is presented of the cost of capital in selected industry groups. with emphasis placed on firms primarily involved with government contracting. Time series data and the customary ratio analysis for specific industry groups are given. An evaluation is shown of the overall profit outcomes in terms of a general measure of the cost of capital for the groups developed. Adaptations are made of models which capital theorists offer as descriptive of market behavior and normative for managerial decisions. A test is presented of the reasonableness of profits for renegotiation board objectives, and a summary description of the various profit theories of economics is included. C.T.C. The incentive contract form is examined in terms of elementary decision theory, incorporating the contractor's utility function and the question of choice under uncertainty. This approach was taken to clarify the contractor's decision problem and to develop the necessary insight as to the value of this contract for stimulating contractor efficiency. Fundamental inconsistencies in incentive contracting are assessed, with emphasis placed on contractor risks and contract negotiations under conditions of uncertainty. A general model of contractor behavior is developed as a formal description of the approach to contract negotiations; it describes how the contractor can improve his situation with an incentive contract—not through cost efficiency efforts but through negotiations. The fee function is also examined, and several examples of contractor motivation are given. It is pointed out that experience with incentive contracts clearly indicates that cost sharing by the contractor is not sufficient to stimulate efficiency, and that there is a general absence of a potential for negotiating fee arrangements which will stimulate such efficiency. M.G.J. MANAGERIAL METHODS OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECT MANAGERS WITH A LOOSE REIN George A. Steiner and William G. Ryan 15 Nov. 1965 101 p refs Its NASA Res. Paper No. 1 (Grant NSG-237) (NASA-CR-71814) A study designed to determine whether successful project managers having a loose rein used comparable managerial principles and practices. Major objectives of this study were to focus more attention on the loose rein method, to describe and analyze the managerial practices that are typically used, and to set forth advantages in the process for both the government and its contractors. Loose rein management refers to those arrangements which free a project manager from most of the detailed procedural procurement requirements placed upon him by the customer, thus allowing freedom in (1) evaluating and reviewing requirements, (2) choosing design to meet requirements, and (3) making technical and managerial decisions needed to complete the assignment. A managerial model is also described which presents basic fundamental principles and practices which must be applied for success in cutting time and cost to prototype. Major conclusions of this study were: (1) Fifteen project managers who had a loose rein from the customer (government) also had similar managerial philosophies and ran their programs on the basis of comparable principles and practices. (2) The use of the proposed model (NASA-CR-84820) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.65 CSCL 05C It has been proposed that plans for attaining rapid expansion of economic growth should emphasize speeding up technical change and innovation. This paper deals with one possibility for acceleratin such applications of science and technology: governmental encouragement of the private performance of research and development (R&D). An examination of such efforts in the more rapidly developing nations reveals that a wide variety of mechanisms exists through which governmental authorities can encourage private R&D undertakings. This study both indicates the major categories of such public aid and also presents some of the limitations to their effectiveness. Author Types and numbers of problems encountered in government-supported projects in the aerospace and electronics industries are analyzed by reviewing data on 32 research and development contracts. Frequencies of problems encountered by both project and laboratory managers were inversely related to the rankings of the importance of these problems, indicating that there may not be adequate reporting procedures. Rankings and frequencies of problems encountered by both project and laboratory managers are significantly correlated. Problem importance rankings associated with the job positions of project managers and of laboratory managers were not related. While the rankings of frequencies of problems by project managers and government technical monitors agreed, those for laboratory managers and monitors did not. A general problem category typology was developed from the data submitted on the 32 projects. M.W.R. N67-18082*# Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Alfred P. Sloan School of Management. INFORMATION FLOW IN AN RAND D LABORATORY Thomas J. Allen and Stephen I. Cohen Aug. 1966 29 p refs (Grants NSG-235; NSF GN-233; NSF GN-353) (NASA-CR-81753; Rept.-217-66) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.65 CSCL 05J A sociometric study of interpersonal relations and information flow was conducted in a small research and development laboratory engaged in work on new materials and devices in the fields of energy conversion and solid state electronics. The data were collected from 28 of the 34 professional members of the laboratory by means of written questionaire followed up by brief personal interviews. The results of the research provide substantial support for two hypotheses concerned with 1) the role of technological gatekeepers who are key individuals capable of effectively bridging the organizational boundary impedance and who provide the most effective entry point for ideas into the lab, and 2) the influence of primary groups in mediating the information flow. Various statistical percentage data compiled from the questionaires are given in tables, and the relations involving communication behavior are discussed. L.S. (NASA-CR-71785) CFSTI: HC $3.00 CSCL 05J The conditions which produce organizational aging on the context of a particular research and development organization are explored for an operation which has shown at least some of the aging symptoms. Information is utilized to build a theoretical approach and to develop strategies for mitigating the various weaknesses occurring in the aging syndrome. The study is limited to consideration of personnel policies which determine the acquisition, movement within the organization, and separation of employees. Factors considered are the effects of an aging staff, staleness occasioned by familiarity, and the rigidity that is developed to protect the weaker staff members and simplify the work of administrators. S.P. N67-13107*# California Univ., Los Angeles. Graduate School of Business Administration. THE PRE-SOLICITATION PHASE OF GOVERNMENT R&D CONTRACTING Gaylord E. Nichols, Jr. 15 Apr. 1966 28 p refs (NASA-CR-80474; NASA-RP-10) CFSTI: HC $2.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 05A The decision environment that exists during the pre-solicitation phase of research and development contracts awarded by a government agency to private contractors (specifically NASA space research and development center, and two major aerospace companies) is investigated. The report attempts to relate the effects of contractor activity at this phase to contractor selection. Examination of information derived from the above sources indicate that important competitive factors operate prior to the formal initiation of the procurement process which not only affect the project planning and initiation, but also heavily influence the eventual selection of a specific contractor. This early activity is considered to be sufficiently pervasive in the procurement process to be given the status of a distinct phase in the procurement cycle (the pre-solicitation phase). L.S. N67-11339*# Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Alfred RESEARCH PROGRAM ON THE MANAGEMENT OF (NASA-CR-79701) CFSTI: HC $3.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 05A A summary is presented of the progress and plans of a program of research and education on the problems of organizing and managing large scale technology based enterprises. Studies are focused on the objectives of understanding and improving the effectiveness of research and development activities and the use of science and technology for general welfare. Discussions are included on problem solving; organization and management of large projects; individual impersonal factors in research and development; research institutions; government contracting for research and development; sources and uses of new technology: economic and social effects of new technology; and educational activities. H.S.W. N66-82836* Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, Calif. THE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF THE R AND D IN- This production factor study compares a group of spaceoriented establishments in Los Angeles with other aerospace R & D establishments by evaluating collected data on 7,408 engineers and scientists working full time on space projects. The work force composition was analyzed for educational level, age, sex, marital status at time of hire, geographic flow, and salary. Overall, the range of salary increases was higher for personnel in space-oriented establishments than for those in other aerospace R & D establishments. Procurement patterns for NASA-related and DOD-related contracts were mostly similar for a Los Angeles as well as for a Boston company. G.G. N66-35974* # George Washington Univ., Washington, D. C. PRODUCTIVITY OF FEDERALLY FINANCED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Final Report, May 15, 1963-May 14, 1966 Donald S. Watson [1966] 12 p (Grant Ns G-425) (NASA-CR-77776) CFSTI: HC $0.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 05A Four studies conducted under the auspices of NASA are discussed: (1) a study of patents resulting from governmentfinanced research and development, with data categorized as to personnel, federal agencies, and patent policies; (2) a study of the concentration of patents from government-financed research in industry, which treats government contract policies, monopoly power, and patent generation by 177 major contractors during a 17-year period; (3) a study of the federal government's propensity to patent, which analyzes the relative decrease in patents during the postwar period despite the increase in the number of scientists, engineers, and the greatly increased financial outlay; and (4) an incomplete study of the concentration of patents owned by domestic corporations, which spans four decades. K.W. N66-14577* # Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. AIfred P. Sloan School of Management. TIME ALLOCATION AMONG THREE TECHNICAL INFOR- (Grant NSG 235-62; NSF GN-233; NSF GN-353) Four government funded parallel research and development projects are examined to determine the manner in which engineers and scientists allocate their time, and the effect of this allocation on the outcome of the projects. The use of matched pairs of projects allows the relative evaluation of outcomes by technical monitors in the customer agencies. The percent of total time spent in three categories of information gathering (outside consultation, staff consultation, and literature search) varies significantly over the life of a project. Higher rated teams are relatively stable in all phases of information gathering while lower rated teams initially (NASA-CR-68968) CFSTI: HC $4.00/MF $1.00 CSCL 051 A study report is given on the university role in engineering research, and an examination of research practices, program character, attitudes of the faculty and students, and the administrative problems in carrying out a NASA program in a particular school of engineering. Although the study was made in the context of the Stanford University engineering community, other inputs were used, and many of the results are believed to have a general applicability to NASA-University relations. In the course of the study detailed quantitative information was accumulated through structured interviews with research-oriented engineering faculty members, and other less formal interviews with additional members of the faculty and with students. Detailed conclusions are given concerning engineering students and teaching; research and graduate education; character and organization of faculty research; university contributions to space flight projects; university-community interaction and spin-off; and NASA funding of university research. C.T.C. N66-14417* # California Univ., Berkeley. Space Sciences Lab. THE ROLE OF THE RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR C. W. Churchman, C. E. Kruytbosch, and P. Ratoosh Oct. 1965 16 p refs Its Internal Working Paper No. 38 (Grant NSG-243-62) (NASA-CR-68969) CFSTI: HC $1.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 05A This paper reports a preliminary attempt to characterize a number of role orientations among research administrators by means of a series of self-administered rankings of the functions they perform. Mutually exclusive administrative and research orientations appeared in the rankings. The former stressed administrative control and planning functions and deemphasized involvement in scientific and technical activities. and human relations functions; the researchers reversed these positions. A further managerial orientation stressed planning and human relations functions and placed low value upon research and administrative control. The sample was too small to permit significant correlations between the role orientations and organizational and career variables. A striking feature of the rankings was that respondents who had held their positions for several years were more consistent in the various rankings than were more recent arrivals. This strongly suggests a developmental pattern to the role orientations. Author N66-12194* # Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Alfred P. Sloan School of Management. SOURCES OF IDEAS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN PARALLEL R & D PROJECTS Thomas J. Allen Jul. 1965 26 p refs Presented at the 2d ONR Conf. on Res. Program Effectiveness, Washington, D. C., 28 Jul. 1965 Its Working Paper No. 130-65 (Grants NsG-235-62; NSF GN-233: NSF GN-353) (NASA-CR-68156) CFSTI: HC $2.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 05B Seven sets of parallel R & D projects involving 15 laboratories are examined. Data gathered by Solution Development Records-a form which provides a weekly estimate of the prob ability of adoption of the approaches under consideration as possible solutions to a technical problem-and post-project interviews with the engineers responsible for each problem. The sources of technical approaches, indicated on the Solution Development Records, were obtained during the post-project interviews. Eight possible sources of ideas are considered. Better performing groups are found to rely more than poorer performers upon information sources within the laboratory, for generation of ideas. A serious misalignment appears to exist between the quality of ideas generated through the eight channels and the frequency with which these channels are used by engineers. Vendors and analysis and experimentation, by the engineer himself, appear to be over-utilized relative to their effectiveness as idea sources, while information available from other company research programs and from the lab's technical staff is under-utilized. Author N66-10635* # Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. Alfred P. Sloan School of Management. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON THE ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF R AND D. PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGIES IN PARALLEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Thomas J. Allen Jun. 1965 28 p refs (Grant NSG-235) (NASA-CR-67767) CFSTI: HC $2.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 14A Three pairs of parallel R&D projects are examined. The data analyzed were gathered by means of Solution Development Records-a form which provides a weekly estimate of the probability of adoption of the approaches under consideration as possible solutions to a technical problem. It is found that the longer an approach is indicated by these forms to be in a favored position, the more difficult it is to reject. Furthermore, the number of alternative technical approaches considered bears a relation to judged solution quality. Groups producing higherrated solutions generated fewer approaches during the course of the project, and they more closely approach an ideal strategy of approaches off on a two-at-a-time basis than do their poorer performing rivals. Author N66-10633* # Massachusetts Inst., of Tech., Cambridge. Alfred P. Sloan School of Management. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON THE ORGANIZATION AND Edward B. Roberts Sep. 1965 27 p refs Presented at the 2d (NASA-CR-67766) CFSTI: HC $2.00/MF $0.50 CSCL 14A Presented are results of a cost/effectiveness evaluation of the Research and Development procurement process which controls the awards of over $8 billion annually of government sponsored research and development contracts to industry, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Analyzed are data received via brief questionnaires which asked the following questions: (1) Who are the winners of research and development contracts? (2) What are the key determinants of the awards to these winners? (3) Compared with possible alternatives. what are the benefits of the present R&D procurement process? (4) Compared with possible alternatives, what are the costs of the present R&D process? S.C.W. |