Date of Award

6-17-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Cost Analysis

Department

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

First Advisor

Edward D. White, PhD.

Abstract

Cost growth is a problem in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions. A particular component of cost growth is a cost overrun or Over Target Baseline (OTB). In 2009, Trahan found that the Gompertz growth curve better predicted program Estimates at Completion (EAC) for OTB contracts. In 2010, Thickstun studied “the relationships between overruns and a variety of factors,” but found OTB occurrences “random” and questioned the benefit of the OTB process (Thickstun, 2010). In this research, we study OTB‟s ability to effect improved program cost performance; we examine OTB‟s effect on the cumulative Cost Performance Index (CPI) slope after an OTB intervention. We find there is no statistically significant change in cumulative CPI slope after OTB. For the data studied, an OTB investment does not significantly improve management‟s ability to earn cost value as reflected in the cumulative CPI slope.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GCA-ENC-10-02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA524080

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