Model-Based Decision Support using Test and Evaluation: A Lightweight Architecture Approach

A standardized decision support tool to support test prioritization and decision-making is a prerequisite to achieving on-time delivery of weapon systems that are adequately tested and vetted by decision makers within distributed organizations such as the defense industrial base. However, to achieve standardization, the core principles of systems thinking and systems engineering must be utilized in order to realize a holistic and evolvable process and product that integrates Test & Evaluation (T&E) data and information with decision-making in a consistent format to support program offices. To address this need, a model-based reference architecture for the standardization of the Integrated Decision Support Key (IDSK) data and decision formats is presented in this paper. The IDSK is a DoD-mandated decision support tool (artifact) for capturing a program's decisions and the T&E information necessary to support the decisions. The digital-IDSK reference architecture proposed is developed using a model-based systems engineering approach and facilitates the generation of standardized data and decision formats that are tailorable, adaptable to incremental future changes, and easy to integrate with other digital engineering artifacts all within a digital engineering ecosystem. In addition, this approach is also applicable not only to defense-based organizations, but also finds utility within organizations pivoting to a digital engineering strategy for informing product T&E decision-making.