Application and Validation of Concept Maturity Assessment Framework

<p>Far too often decision makers select concepts based on insufficient data resulting in projects that are over-budget over-schedule and not what the customer wants. Research efforts have proposed a stage-gated concept maturity framework as a tool to assess and increase the maturity of concepts. This research uses multiple validation techniques to demonstrate the value this framework can provide. Interviews with acquisition professionals capture qualitative and quantitative data on the utility of the elements of the framework and the acquisition process. This research also applies the framework to a current acquisition program to determine if it can be broadly applied for different types of developments. Lastly this research looks to current acquisition policy and guidance to see if there is support for the maturity elements of the framework.The results of this study led the research team to accept the framework as a useful guide and approach to assessing a concepts maturity. The majority of responses were favorable towards the activities recommended in the framework. The researchers were able to apply the framework in real-time to a concept in early development to the benefit of the sponsoring organization. The results of this study have also led to the formation of themes best-practices and lessons-learned concerning early concept development. The results affirm that when developing a concept people make the difference more resources up-front are needed to fully understand a concept and developers should avoid constraining the trade-space by pre-supposing a solution.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>