An Excel Tool to Assess Acquisition Program Risk - User's manual and guidance for adapting Assessor Tool

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang

This RAND report presents a Microsoft Excel–based Assessor Tool designed to support Department of Defense acquisition specialists in identifying system integration risk areas across the acquisition lifecycle. It provides a user’s manual for the current integration risk application (Version 1.0) and instructions to adapt the tool for different applications. The document is intended for readers interested in risk assessment of major defense programs and does not require prior knowledge of the DoD acquisition system.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages29

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Figures and Tables

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Chapter One

Introduction

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EDUCATION AND THE ARTS ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS NATIONAL SECURITY POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TERRORISM AND HOMELAND SECURITY The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. This electronic document was made available from [www.rand.org](www.rand.org) as a public service of the RAND Corporation. Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 1 6 Support RAND Browse Reports & Bookstore Make a charitable contribution For More Information [Visit RAND at](Visit RAND at www.rand.org)[ ](Visit RAND at www.rand.org)[www.rand.org](Visit RAND at www.rand.org) Explore the RAND National Security Research Division View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. This report is part of the RAND Corporation tool series. RAND tools may include models, databases, calculators, computer code, GIS mapping tools, practitioner guidelines, web applications, and various toolkits. All RAND tools undergo rigorous peer review to ensure both high data standards and appropriate methodology in keeping with RAND’s commitment to quality and objectivity. NATIONAL SECURITY RESEARCH DIVISION An Excel Tool to Assess Acquisition Program Risk Lauren A. Fleishman-Mayer, Mark V. Arena, Michael E. McMahon Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Approved for public release; distribution unlimited This research was conducted within the Acquisition and Technology Policy Center of the RAND National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, and the defense Intelligence Community. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. R® is a registered trademark. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Copies may not be duplicated for commercial purposes. Unauthorized posting of RAND documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND documents are protected under copyright law. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit the RAND permissions page ([http://www.rand.org/publications/](http://www.rand.org/publications/)[ ](http://www.rand.org/publications/)[permissions.html](permissions.html)) . Published 2013 by the RAND Corporation 1776 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202-5050 4570 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2665 RAND URL: [http://www.rand.org](http://www.rand.org) To order RAND documents or to obtain additional information, contact Distribution Services: Telephone: (310) 451-7002; Fax: (310) 451-6915; Email: [order@rand.org](order@rand.org) The Department of Defense (DoD) relies on risk management analysis when acquiring large defense acquisition programs. Risk management helps decisionmakers ensure that objectives related to cost, schedule, and performance are met according to progra

FAQs

What is the Excel Assessor Tool for acquisition programs used to do?

It helps DoD acquisition specialists identify system integration risk areas at any point in the acquisition process.

What does the document include about the tool?

It offers a user’s manual for the current integration risk application (Version 1.0) and instructions to adapt the Assessor Tool for different applications.

Who is the intended audience for this report?

Readers interested in risk assessment of major defense programs, including those without prior understanding of the DoD acquisition system.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Bintang