Measuring the Statutory and Regulatory Constraints on Department of Defense Acquisition. An Empirical Analysis

Abstract : Improving the defense acquisition process has been a recurring theme for several decades. Acquisition process reforms often require changes in the body of statutes and regulations governing the acquisition process. Prior research has observed a regulatory pendulum in which statutes and regulations seem to move back and forth from relative flexibility to relative rigidity in response to perceived problems in the acquisition process generally, or in specific weapon system programs. Increased flexibility enables program managers to tailor their program's acquisition strategy to the unique features of its environment and to reduce the costs of oversight. Rigidity in statutes and regulations mandates specific management approaches and oversight procedures.