7
Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
The findings, conclusions, and recommendations from the prior chapters in this report are provided below to provide a concise review of the major points from the committee’s study.
DATA SCIENCE IN DOD ACQUISITION
SYNOPSIS
Based on testimonies and information collected as well as its experience and expertise, the committee believes that there are viable and cost-effective opportunities for DoD to improve defense acquisition processes and decision making through expanded use of the evolving capabilities in data use and data science broadly. Exactly what areas and what level of investment are appropriate given competing demands and other opportunities for the department must be decided by a strategic review, assessment, and plan of data-science needs, opportunities, costs, and anticipated returns against the return-on-investment from other opportunities. This report can be used—in guiding such a review, assessment, and plan—to embed the data life cycle into the acquisition process, establish roles and teams for executing the data life cycle, and build training opportunities for the acquisition workforce. Attention to workforce empowerment and training throughout the data life cycle, as outlined in this report, will further enhance DoD efforts to improve data use in defense acquisition, incorporate data-informed decision making, and advance the acquisition process.