Addressing the Challenges of Software Growth and Rapidly Evolving Software Technologies

The growth, complexity, and reliance on software as part of the Department of Defense and Navy (DoD/Navy) warfare systems is continuing to increase. This increase in software complexity and reliance has been accompanied by an increase in software intensive system acquisition cost, schedule, and technical performance failures. The DoD/Navy is not performing as a smart partner with industry to successfully apply the latest software methodologies and technologies to achieve the goal of Open Architecture-based reusable software components, and thereby improve quality and reliability while also reducing cost and schedule overruns. A key enabler for improving software intensive system acquisition is the reconstitution and utilization of government in-house software subject matter experts that can lead and work with industry software engineers as part of an integrated software development team.