Can Revolutions be Managed?

Abstract

For 50 years after World War II, the US Congress passed laws to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the US Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition system. DoD, in turn, established rules to implement these laws. It also hired auditors and inspectors to make sure everyone followed all the rules and laws. While waste, fraud and abuse were indeed very low, a rule-based, bureaucratic system discouraged innovation and change and resulted in slow procurement and acquisition of weapons, goods and services. It also created considerable infrastructure and cost and resulted in poor service to the customer, the soldier, sailor, airman and marine.