The Role Of Experimentation Campaigns In The Air Force Innovation Life Cycle

The Role of Experimentation Campaigns in the Air Force Innovation Cycle

The Role of Experimentation Campaigns in the Air Force Innovation Life Cycle

The Air Force (USAF) has continuously sought to improve the speed with which it develops new capabilities to accomplish its various missions in air, space, and cyberspace. Historically, innovation has been a key part of USAF strategy, and operating within an adversary's OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, act) is part of Air Force DNA. This includes the ability to deploy technological innovations faster than do our adversaries. The Air Force faces adversaries with the potential to operate within the USAF's OODA loop, and some of these adversaries are already deploying innovations faster than the USAF. The Role of Experimentation Campaigns in the Air Force Innovation Life Cycle examines the current state of innovation and experimentation in the Air Force and best practices in innovation and experimentation in industry and other government agencies. This report also explores organizational changes needed to eliminate the barriers that deter innovation and experimentation and makes recommendations for the successful implementation of robust innovation and experimentation by the Air Force.

Innovation

It is a systems world. This concise book uses a systems-based approach to show how innovation is ubiquitous in all facets of endeavors, including business, industry, government, and academia. The systems approach facilitates process design, evaluation, justification, and integration. This book explicitly highlights the crucial role of integration in any innovation project. It presents conceptual and operational definitions of innovation. Emphasis is placed on the context related to the theme of systems thinking. Features Covers the intrinsic basis for innovation from a systems perspective Describes the use of the DEJI systems model for actuating innovation Highlights the role of humans in the innovation loop Provides guidance for innovation project management Presents a case example of linking quality and innovation Introduces the Umbrella Theory of Innovation