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Architecting Technology Transition Pathways: Insights from the Military Tactical Network Upgrade

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  • Zoe Szajnfarber
  • Linda McCabe
  • Amanda Rohrbach

Abstract

As engineering systems become more and more complex, technology transition increasingly involves deploying an upgraded subsystem across a legacy network. This mode of upgrade presents new challenges for systems architects concerned with maintaining value over multiple infused technical changes. This paper explores the dynamics of technology transition in path‐dependent infrastructure systems. It uses a model‐based case study of the envisioned military airborne tactical network upgrade as a basis for developing guidelines for effective transition path design. Based on the natural diffusion dynamics of the system we identified an inherent tradeoff between upgrade cycle and sustained capability levels. In other words, assuming even weakly exponential growth in demand, there is a relationship between timing of infusion and longevity of benefit. As a result, a less capable upgrade, deployed expediently can do more good than a more sophisticated upgrade that can only be integrated in the next block upgrade. In addition, by conceptualizing the transition “path” as a design lever, two dimensions of problem decomposition can be exploited to mitigate transition barriers: (1) self‐contained subnetworks can provide a proving ground for full‐system future benefits in order to mitigate stakeholder resistance; and (2) the technical system can be designed for evolvability, making it possible to stage deployment in the technical dimension as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Zoe Szajnfarber & Linda McCabe & Amanda Rohrbach, 2015. "Architecting Technology Transition Pathways: Insights from the Military Tactical Network Upgrade," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(4), pages 377-395, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:syseng:v:18:y:2015:i:4:p:377-395
    DOI: 10.1002/sys.21311
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    2. Adams, Walter & Adams, William James, 1972. "The Military-Industrial Complex: A Market Structure Analysis," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 62(2), pages 279-287, May.
    3. Utterback, James M & Abernathy, William J, 1975. "A dynamic model of process and product innovation," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 3(6), pages 639-656, December.
    4. Tom Herald & Dinesh Verma & Caroline Lubert & Robert Cloutier, 2009. "An obsolescence management framework for system baseline evolution—Perspectives through the system life cycle," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, March.
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